Make this delicious copy cat Vancouver Phnom Penh Cambodian fried chicken wings recipe at home real healthy, light and crispy. Quick and easy in the Air Fryer in 30 minutes. These wings are so addictive, you'll want to make it a double!
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- Vancouver Phnom Penh 金邊小館
- Copy-Cat Phnom Penh Chicken Wings Recipe
- Crispy Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
- Crispy Fried Chicken Batter
- Dipping Crack Sauce
- Best Air Fryer Wing Tips
- Best Air Fryer Cooking Method and Tips
- > Recipe Card
- Phnom Penh Cambodian Fried Chicken Wings Recipe Air Fryer
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Vancouver Phnom Penh 金邊小館
I guess it's fair to say that I have an obsession with chicken wings as like someone would over fried chicken. There's this hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Vancouver that has been serving up some serious crack chicken wings for the past couple decades. Phnom Penh 金邊小館 is located in Chinatown and there is never a shortage of people lining up - a casual rainy weeknight will set you back at least 40 minutes. Yet we all happily comply! I think it's partly because of their garlic butter sauce; and partly because of their crack dipping sauce that makes their wings so addictive!
Copy-Cat Phnom Penh Chicken Wings Recipe
To make this super delicious Cambodian chicken wings recipe at home a little healthier, I don't use any powdered MSG. I substituted the umami flavour with a little fish sauce and brown sugar. I also replaced deep frying the chicken wings in hot oil with an air fryer (similar here).
Crispy Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
These chicken wings are dead easy to make. They are light and crispy! A little tangy and sweet! The skin has a nice sugary crunch! It's almost magic! All you need is some five minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cooking time in the Air Fryer at 375F (you barely even have to lift a finger! You can go and enjoy that glass of wine and Netflix).
Crispy Fried Chicken Batter
You will need a splash of fish sauce, brown sugar, corn starch or potato starch or rice flour, salt and ground white pepper for the crispy fried chicken batter and marinade.
Dipping Crack Sauce
For the dipping sauce, you will need lime juice, white pepper powder and black pepper salt (I use Wu Hsing brand but you can find similar ones at any Asian supermarket). You can also use regular ground black pepper if you can't find it. You can also add some Chinese Five Spice Powder for extra flavour!
I highly encourage you to make extra dipping sauce... you'll want to double-dip!
Best Air Fryer Wing Tips
- Remember to marinate the chicken wings in a large bowl for at least 20 mins to 1 hour. Let the umami flavours develop and soak thoroughly. Use a marinade mixture for that pop of umami and depth of flavour for your Phnom Penh Wings recipe.
- Crispy chicken wings are air fried twice: first at a low temperature to cook through the meat, and the second at high heat to push out the excess oil and create the crunch!
- Potato Starch: Coating your phnom penh fried chicken wings with potato starch or rice flour makes all the difference in making these crispy golden brown chicken wings! It is night and day compared to using plain old flour! Potato starch has a bit more grit and, when fried, creates little balls of crunchiness. It is lighter yet crispier and crunchier!
Best Air Fryer Cooking Method and Tips
This small kitchen appliance can be intimidating if you've never cooked with an air fryer. However, I swear by its convenience and versatility and rapidly circulating hot air to cook crispy food without too much oil!
Here are a few tips for anyone who has (or is planning on getting) an air fryer! I guarantee you will fall in love with this machine the first time cooking with it!
What is the best temperate to air fry chicken wings?
To make next level crispy Phnom Penh chicken wings, it is best to air fry wings twice at 375F and 400F the second time to mimic the high heat temperature of a roaster. Don't worry! Your flatties will still be tender with just the right about of crispy skin.
How long should I air fry wings?
Khmer Chicken wings cook for 25 minutes with a beautiful crispy skin, depending on the size and thickness of the wings. This also depends on the model and size of your air fryer oven, so you may want to reduce or increase the air frying time by one to two minutes.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Based on experience, you should always preheat the air fryer before filling it with food. Doing this makes the air fryer's temperature more consistent, and your food will cook more evenly. Simply preheat your air fryer for two to three minutes before cooking.
How to choose the right air fryer?
Choosing the right air fryer for your kitchen depends on your lifestyle, available counter space, and if you intend to cook small or big-batched meals. We like the supersized XL pressure cooker and 7.6L cooking pot that is big enough to cook a small chicken, air fryer potstickers or one large head of broccoli inside like THIS Ninja Foodi Air Fryer!
How to clean air fryers easily?
Use air fryer parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan for easy clean-ups. Then wash the air fryer basket with warm soapy water.
Next time you crave fried chicken but don't want another Kentucky Fried Chicken or wings drenched in classic buffalo sauce or bbq sauce, opt for this signature dish!
These chicken wings have the crispiest skin and a juicy meat center! I guarantee these are the BEST wings you will ever make in your own home with our unsuspecting Phnom Penh secret ingredient! If you enjoy ike this healthy chicken recipe, add this family-style recipe to your easy weeknight meal menu! Also, check out our next level Air Fried Crispy Soy Chicken Recipe!
I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS.
> Recipe Card
PrintPhnom Penh Cambodian Fried Chicken Wings Recipe Air Fryer
Make this delicious copycat Vancouver Phnom Penh Cambodian Fried Chicken Wings Recipe healthy, light, and crisp at home. Quick and easy in the Air Fryer in 30 minutes. These wings are so addictive that you'll want to make a double batch!
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 2 lbs 1x
- Category: Chicken Wings
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Cambodian
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 cup corn starch
Chicken Wing Marinade
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 4-6 garlic (minced)
- dash of salt and pepper
Dipping Sauce
- 3-4 tablespoon white pepper powder
- 1 tbsp black pepper salt (I use Wu Hsing brand)
- 1 lime juice
Optional
- 1 tbsp butter (for air fryer)
- 1 stalk fine chopped green onions and cilantro for garnish
Instructions
Crispy Cambodian Fried Chicken Wings
- In a large mixing bowl, mix fish sauce, sugar, salt and pepper, and minced garlic.
- Add chicken wings, toss and let marinade in fridge for 20 minutes. (Longer is ok too)
- In a large bowl, place corn starch and coat the chicken wings. Shake off excess flour.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter if you want that extra garlic butter flavour. For a healthier version, you do not need to add any oil. The chicken wings will give off enough oil for cooking.
- Using a pair of tongs, add the chicken wings to the air fryer basket.
- First Fry: Turn on Air Fryer and set timer to 20 minutes at 375F, flipping halfway.
- Second Fry: Air Fry for 5 minutes at 400F.
- Enjoy that glass of wine and come back with the timer beeps.
- Removes wings with kitchen tongs and let rest on a wire rack or paper towels for few minutes. Be careful - the chicken wings are VERY HOT straight out of the air fryer! You do not want to burn your tongue!
Dipping Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, white pepper powder and black pepper salt. You will want enough pepper so that the lime juice turn into a grey-ish colour.
Dip your wings in that peppery lime sauce and enjoy!
Notes
- If you do not have an air fryer you can bake the chicken wings for 45 minutes at 420F. Flipping every 20 to 30 mins.
- This recipe was made in a Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer.
- For even cooking, don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Arrange the wings in a single layer.
- Preheat the air fryer for a more even cooking heat distribution.
- Use air fryer parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan for easy clean ups
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bucket
- Calories: 131
- Sugar: 5.4 g
- Sodium: 873.1 mg
- Fat: 0.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.2 g
- Protein: 2.3 g
- Cholesterol: 3.2 mg
Sharing
I'm sharing this fluffy and frothy Dalgona latte recipe to autumn comfort food with Family Friends Food for #CookBlogShare.
Pin the above image to your Fried Chicken or Air Fryer recipe board to bookmark this page. We are so excited to share our recipes with you!
MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES
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Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Wings 蒜蓉醬油雞翅
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Dora says
Where does the butter go? Is it used to grease the pan for the air fryer?
Nancy says
you can use it to rub on the chicken if you desire. it is just optional
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
These wings look fantastic! I love that the recipe uses all ingredients I already have in my pantry!
Nancy says
Thanks Cindy! The kids love it!
Rebecca - Glutarama says
Great recipe and easy to make gluten free too!
Cat says
These are so dangerously good. I made them and my husband and I couldn't stop eating them they were so good! Really crisp and the dipping sauce was delicious too.
Bobbie says
These wings are crispy and have great combination of seasoning! Great recipe.
Swathi says
This pan fried chicken wings looks delicious.
Katie says
Love this simple recipe! Definitely will be making again soon, the whole family has been asking for it again!
Natalie says
I love your healthy and simple version of these chicken wings Nancy, thanks!
Sean says
This recipe was so good. What made it better was I had all the ingredients already at home.
Gina Abernathy says
We love fried chicken wings. These look delicious!
Emily Flint says
Love that I can make these in the air fryer! My new favorite wing recipe!
Jean says
Since I have limited travels, I like discovering new recipes and this chicken is so good and tasty.
Jessica says
The texture of these wings is great - perfectly crisp on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. They actually remind me of my favorite wings from our local Chinese restaurant. I'm so excited that I can make them from home now and it's soooo easy!!
Crystal says
These look delicious, and I just got a new air fryer. Thanks for the recipe!
Jere Cassidy says
Someday I will get an AF, but for today these wings went into the oven, they still came out super tasty and crispy. Love the flavor.
Janie says
These chicken wings were tasty! I used the airfryer and they came up crispy and delicious. I loved the dipping sauce too!
Kristina says
This air fryer chicken wing recipe sounds delicious! Is there a substitute for the fish sauce?
Janice says
Such a great recipe that makes the chicken wings so tasty. Love the dipping sauce too.
Lesley says
Delicious and so easy to cook. I like your suggestion of cutting back on oil and allowing the wings to cook in their own fat, very clever.
Abby says
Love this recipe! Great flavor and super easy to make!
Lindy Tsai says
I can't wait to make these soon! But what is black pepper salt? Is that just a mixture of regular black pepper and salt? Or is it a specific product?
Nancy says
HI LINDY - you are right, just a mixture of black pepper and salt. it is from a brand called Wu Hsing. But technically it is just more black pepper less salt mixture to be specific! Can't wait to see you make it!
Jeaneth says
I would like to try recipe! What temp do I set for the air fryer?
Nancy says
The cooking temperature of the Actifry is approximately 180°C (160°C at the heart of the food) at the end of the cooking.
If you have the option to set your air fryer temperatue I would set it to 180C.
thefoodblog says
We visit Vancouver often, and love to visit Chinatown to eat . I'm excited to visit Phnom Penh! Thanks for sharing this, Nancy. And I can't wait to make these delicious wings!
Nancy says
yay!!!
Terri says
Wish I lived close enough to try those crack wings- yum! But fortunately I have this recipe now - can't wait to try it!
Nancy says
Next time when you're in the area! But I suggest doubling batching this bad boy!
Cynthia Priest says
I love wings! I will have to try the oven method or use my mini deep fryer. That garlic butter sauce sounds lovely. Do let me know when you have cracked the recipe for it!
Nancy says
Hahaa I'm sure the secret spice is a family heirloom!
Kelly Neil says
Wow, the way you described the wings with the garlic butter sauce at that little restaurant sounds AMAZING. I don't have an air fryer but I've thought about buying one for a long time! Pinning this recipe to make!
Nancy says
maybe this recipe will persuade you to get an air fryer? haha but don't worry, you can make this in the oven toO!!
Sharon says
These have now moved to the top of my list. The TOP! I haven't been to this location and I live in Vancouver! lol I don't really eat out much and I love this version as it can be relatively healthy. I'm going to try baking these!
Nancy says
Hi Sharon i'm so surprised you haven't been to PP!! You definitely need to and make sure you call ahead if doing take out. Hope these will help at home to satisfy the craving!
Joyce says
This seems easy! I wish I have an air-fryer to make this. Love me some fried chicken wings at home from time to time.
Nancy says
YUP! just marinade it, loaded it up and come back to yummy wings!
Kelly Neil says
I don't have an AirFryer so thank you for including the oven method! I love crispy wings and these sound so good!
Nancy says
Yes, I've made both method and it works out just perfectly!
Shareba says
I love the flavours you used in this recipe! Making extra dipping sauce sounds like a good idea.
Nancy says
extra dipping sauce is necessary. You will probably want more half way thru! 😛 very addictive!
Bernice Hill says
I have heard about this place....but we didn't have enough time to visit all of the places on our list the last time we were in Vancouver. I need to get an air fryer just so I can make wings at home!!
Nancy says
Oh Bernice! it's a must when you visit Vancouver. Just make sure you order what everyone is ordering at the restaurant and you can't go wrong!