Description
Enjoy these flavorful Sticky Chicken Drumsticks glazed with a sweet and tangy Chinese plum sauce. Marinated in a mixture of plum sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, ginger, and Chinese five spice, these drumsticks bake to tender, sticky perfection and are garnished with toasted sesame seeds and fresh scallions, making an irresistible appetizer or main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.2kg / 2.4lb large chicken drumsticks (8 drumsticks)
Marinade and Sauce
- 3/4 cup / 185ml Fountain Plum Sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar (can reduce to 1/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (all purpose or light, not dark soy sauce)
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp ginger, minced
- 1/2 tsp Chinese five spice powder
Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Finely chopped scallions
Instructions
- Prepare marinade: In a ziplock bag or mixing bowl, combine plum sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, minced garlic, minced ginger, and Chinese five spice powder. Mix well to form the marinade.
- Marinate chicken: Add the chicken drumsticks to the marinade and massage to coat thoroughly. Seal the bag or cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to infuse. (Note: Marinating can be skipped if short on time.)
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 180°C (350°F) to prepare for baking the drumsticks.
- Prepare baking tray: Line a baking tray with parchment paper or foil, then lightly spray with oil to prevent sticking.
- Arrange chicken: Transfer the drumsticks onto the prepared tray, shaking off excess marinade but do not discard it; reserve the marinade for basting.
- Bake and baste: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the tray and baste the drumsticks with the reserved marinade to enhance flavor and stickiness.
- Continue baking: Return the tray to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is sticky and caramelized.
- Garnish and serve: Once baked, sprinkle the drumsticks with toasted sesame seeds and finely chopped scallions. Serve hot and enjoy your sticky, flavorful chicken drumsticks.
Notes
- Note 1: Fountain Plum Sauce is a sweet and tangy Chinese sauce available at Asian grocery stores or online.
- Note 2: Chinese Five Spice Powder adds distinctive depth with flavors of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel seed. Adjust quantity to taste.
- Note 3: Marinating for at least 1 hour helps intensify flavors but can be skipped if necessary; chicken will still be tasty.
- Use light or all-purpose soy sauce instead of dark soy sauce to maintain a balanced flavor without overpowering saltiness.
- For extra crispy skin, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking watching carefully to prevent burning.
