Chesapeake Wings Recipe

Prepare wings

Pat the fresh jumbo chicken wings dry with paper towels. Remove any excess skin or feathers and, if whole wings, separate at the joint into drumette and flat portions if desired.

Season the wings evenly with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then toss them with the house crab seasoning so each piece is well coated.

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) if baking, or preheat a deep-fryer to 350°F (175°C) if frying. For a crisp outside and juicy inside, baking on a rack or double frying yields the best texture.

If baking: place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and arrange the seasoned wings in a single layer without touching. Bake for 25–30 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until skin is golden-brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). If frying: fry wings in batches for 8–10 minutes until deep golden and cooked through; drain on paper towels.

While wings are hot, melt the unsalted butter in a small skillet over low heat and add the chopped celery and parsley. Sauté for 1–2 minutes just to soften the celery slightly and release aromatics, then stir in the lemon juice. Pour the warm butter mixture over the cooked wings and toss gently to coat evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning with a pinch more house crab seasoning or salt if needed.

In a medium bowl, combine the crumbled Stilton cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Use a fork or small whisk to mash most of the cheese into the mixture, leaving some small crumbles for texture.

Stir in the buttermilk a tablespoon at a time until you reach a creamy, pourable consistency that will cling to the wings but still be scoopable (about 2 tablespoons).

Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly and taste. Adjust seasoning with more salt, lemon, or Worcestershire as desired.

Chill the dressing in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Before serving, give it a final stir and, if it thickened too much, thin with an extra teaspoon of buttermilk or lemon juice.