🇹🇿 Tanzanian / Modern · Meat Dishes
🍗 Tanzanian Chicken Wings
Mbawa za Kuku za Tanzania
Tanzanian Chicken Wings — chicken wings marinated in Zanzibar spices and tamarind, baked until crispy, then glazed with a honey-tamarind glaze. The most popular restaurant starter in Dar es Salaam — sweet, sticky, and powerfully spiced.
Tanzanian chicken wings carry the full flavour profile of the coast — tamarind, honey, and Zanzibar spices create a glaze that is simultaneously sweet, tart, and aromatic. At Dar es Salaam's most popular restaurants, these disappear faster than anything else on the menu.
Ingredients
Equipment: Baking tray with rack, Oven at 200°C
- 1 kg chicken wings — split
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
Glaze
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Method
- Mix marinade. Coat wings. Marinate 2 hours.
- Place on rack. Bake at 200°C for 20 minutes.
- Flip. Bake 10 minutes.
- Make glaze: simmer all glaze ingredients 3 minutes.
- Brush wings with glaze. Bake 5 minutes. Flip. Glaze again. Bake 5 more minutes.
- Serve with extra glaze for dipping.
Chef Tips
- The rack gives crispier skin.
- Multiple glaze applications build the lacquer.
- Serve immediately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Single glaze — insufficient lacquer.
- No rack — steamed skin.
The Science
See KEN272 for chicken wing cooking science.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- High protein.
- Tamarind adds iron.
Cultural Note
Tanzanian tamarind-glazed chicken wings are the social food of Dar es Salaam's restaurant scene — the starter that orders itself and the dish people return specifically to eat.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Best eaten immediately.
Reheating: Oven at 200°C for 8 minutes.
Serve with: Kachumbari, Pili Pili Sauce, Cold Drinks