So what would happen if Italy collided with Buffalo Chicken Wings? Well, you would get this recipe. Using drumsticks instead of wings avoids that nasty gnawing on chicken wing bones that never did make sense. And adding red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to the blue cheese dressing provides an additional Italian twist.
This is also one of those recipes where quantities make no sense. Just use the amounts you like as this is hard to get wrong.
This recipe requires an overnight marinade. Enjoy this perfect end-of-summer dish. Pair with celery sticks.
Ingredients and Directions:
Chicken
- A large package of chicken drumsticks
- Coarse salt
- A small carton of buttermilk
- Red chile flakes
- Black pepper
- Fennel seeds
Dipping Sauce
- Your favorite store bought blue cheese dressing (don’t go too cheap)
- Red wine vinegar
- Extra virgin olive-oil
Preheat oven to 400°.
Rinse and with paper towels, pat dry the chicken drumsticks. Arrange drumsticks in one layer on a cooking sheet and liberally sprinkle with coarse salt.
Bake for about 20 minutes. The chicken will not be cooked completely as it will cook further on the grill.
While the chicken is baking, stir together a portion of the buttermilk container, chile and black peppers and fennel seeds.
When the chicken is finished baking, transfer the warm chicken to a high sided baking dish and pour over the buttermilk mixture. Mix to combine. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
The next day, prepare a hot grill.
Remove the chicken drumsticks from the marinade and after shaking of excess marinade, place on the grill and cook for about 10-12 minutes. Rotate the drumsticks once or twice during cooking.
While the chicken is cooking, pour the blue cheese dressing into a bowl and add the red wine vinegar and olive oil, wisking to combine. Taste as you add the vinegar and oil to achieve a medium thin consistency and the taste you desire for dipping of the chicken drumsticks.
After achieving a gentle char, remove the chicken from the grill and plate arranging drumsticks around the blue cheese dressing dip. Serve with the celery sticks.