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Chicken Drumsticks with Asian Barbecue Sauce
© Con Poulos

Chicken Drumsticks with Asian Barbecue Sauce

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  • ACTIVE: 20 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 HR
  • SERVINGS: 8
  • •MAKE-AHEAD

Instead of making a traditional American barbecue sauce, Grace Parisi prepares a sweet, sticky, slightly fiery version using Asian ingredients, like chile sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar and ginger.

  1. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  2. 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  3. 16 chicken drumsticks (3 pounds)
  4. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  5. 3/4 cup hoisin sauce
  6. 1/4 cup sweet Asian chile sauce or hot pepper jelly
  7. 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
  8. 1/4 cup chicken stock or broth
  9. 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
  10. 2 large garlic cloves
  11. 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  12. 1 cup toasted sesame seeds
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°. In a large bowl, mix the vegetable oil with the five-spice powder. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper and toss. Arrange the chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet. Roast for about 35 minutes, turning twice, until cooked.
  2. Meanwhile, in a blender, combine the hoisin sauce, chile sauce, rice vinegar, stock, ginger, garlic and sesame oil and puree until very smooth. Transfer to a saucepan and simmer until slightly thickened, 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer the chicken to a bowl and toss with the sauce, until completely coated.
  4. Preheat the broiler and position a rack 8 inches from the heat. Return the chicken to the baking sheet and broil for about 10 minutes, brushing with the sauce and turning occasionally, until glazed and sticky.
  5. Add the sesame seeds to a bowl. Dip the chicken in the seeds to coat; serve.

Suggested Pairing

The chicken drumsticks go well with a ripe, spicy Malbec from Argentina.