Sweet Tea-Brined Wings
 
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 family-size tea bags
  • 3 tablespoons kosher salt, divided
  • 3 cups ice
  • 3 pounds chicken wings
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Jezebel Sauce (recipe follows)
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water and sugar to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add tea bags and 1 tablespoon salt. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags, and add 3 cups ice.
  2. Cut off and discard wing tips; cut wings in half at joint. Add wings to cooled tea mixture. Refrigerate for 6 hours or up to overnight.
  3. Preheat oven to 425°.
  4. Drain wings, and pat dry.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together baking powder, thyme, pepper, paprika, and remaining 2 tablespoons salt. Toss wings, in batches, in baking powder mixture. Let stand for 20 minutes.
  6. Drizzle oil into a 15½x10½-inch rimmed cast-iron pan. Place wings in prepared pan, and spray with cooking spray.
  7. Bake until browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 165°, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with Jezebel Sauce.
Recipe by Taste of the South at https://tasteofthesouthmagazine.com/sweet-tea-brined-chicken-wings/