How to Cook Kookaburra Wings
If you’re a regular customer of the Australian-themed restaurant franchise Outback Steakhouse, you probably know what “kookaburra wings” are. If not, don’t be alarmed: They aren't made out of the Australian kingfisher’s wings. They're just the restaurant’s take on traditional buffalo chicken wings.
If you're a regular customer of the Australian-themed restaurant franchise Outback Steakhouse, you probably know what "kookaburra wings" are. If not, don't be alarmed: They aren't made out of the Australian kingfisher's wings. They're just the restaurant's take on traditional buffalo chicken wings. The restaurant serves its version coated in spicy breading and hot sauce, with fresh celery and creamy blue cheese dressing on the side. You can make your own imitation of this appetizer dish at home.
Step 1
Make the breading. Mix well the following ingredients in a bowl: flour, grated cheddar cheese, chili powder, cayenne powder, paprika, cumin, clove powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Step 2
Preheat the canola oil in a frying pan. The ideal temperature is 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 3
Dredge each chicken wing in the breading until each is lightly coated. Set all coated chicken wings on a large plate, and refrigerate them for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on your oil throughout this process.
Step 4
Take the wings out of the refrigerator. Drop them into the heated oil. Fry them for seven to 10 minutes or until they turn golden-brown in color.
Step 5
Put the hot sauce, a teaspoon of water and all the wings into a large plastic zip-top bag. Zip the bag and gently shake the bag to distribute the sauce evenly over all wings. Remove the wings from the bag and serve them on a plate with blue cheese salad dressing and fresh celery sticks.
Tip
You can make your own blue cheese dressing by mixing half a cup of mayonnaise, 1/4 cup plain yogurt, and about half a cup of blue cheese.
Epicurious.com also gives a low-fat version of blue cheese dressing. It's made of cottage cheese, nonfat yogurt, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, a few tablespoons of buttermilk and only 1/4 cup of blue cheese.
If you'd like to use less oil, grill the wings instead. Set an iron griddle over a fire and let it heat up. Spread a few tablespoons of canola oil over the griddle before grilling the chicken wings.
warning
Don't let vegetable or canola oil overheat or begin smoking, or you'll ruin it. Use a cooking thermometer to check whether the oil is at the right temperature. If you don't have a thermometer, drop a few bits of the breading into the oil. If the food bits begin to bubble, it's ready for cooking.
"Kookaburra wings" are a trademark of Outback Steakhouse.