Spicy and Flavorful Grilled Chicken Wings, Perfect for Tailgating!

Tired of the same old tailgate favorites.  Here is my update for spicy buffalo-style chicken wings, Yucatecan Marinated Grilled Chicken Wings; chicken wings marinated in fresh orange, lemon and lime juices, spiced with serrano peppers and grilled to perfection.  The wing marinade is easy to prepare the night before, add the wings, refrigerate, and transport to the tailgate ready to grill.

The wings grill quickly and will be ready to serve fresh and hot with your favorite beverage at your pre-game tailgate party. Another option is to grill or bake the wings at home and transport to the tailgate already cooked  for a easy, no-fuss pre-game function.  Flavorful with the citrus juices and spicy at the same time, the Yucatecan Chicken Wings are sure to be a hit with your tailgate crowd.

Juice of 2 oranges, 2 limes and 2 lemons
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 serrano or jalapeno, thinly sliced (add second pepper for extra spice)
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 to 1 tsp. cayenne pepper (go for 1 tsp. for extra spice)
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 to 3 pounds chicken wings**

**I use chicken wings, but you can substitute whole pieces of chicken, or boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for a healthier version.

Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl except for wings.  Pour marinade over wings (I use a gallon zip-lock bag) and marinate 1-2 hours, or overnight in the refrigerator.

Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade.  Grill on a BBQ or bake in a 350 degree oven.  Instructions for baking in the oven: wings approximately 30-45 minutes; for large pieces of chicken 45-60 minutes; and boneless chicken breast or thighs 30-45 minutes.   Watch wings carefully when you grill as they can burn easily with the citrus juices.  If you bake the wings, you may want to finish them for a couple of minutes underneath the broiler to "crisp" the skin.

Note: This recipe is from the cookbook, "Hot and Spicy: Unusual, Innovative Recipes From The World's Fiery Cuisines", Marlena Spieler, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., Los Angeles,1985.  For anyone interested in hot and spicy food this is an amazing book that has interesting and flavorful spicy recipes from many different cultures and one that I use quite often.