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    Home » Appetisers » Fish Sauce Chicken Wings (Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm)

    Published: Apr 12, 2022 · Last Modified: Apr 12, 2022 by Jeannette ·

    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings (Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm)

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    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings are wings of your dreams! They stay incredibly crispy for HOURS after being fried. Each one is coated with golden garlic bits and a sticky sweet and savory sauce that will rock every party.

    Take these to the next level with our Vietnamese Stuffed Chicken Wings!

    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings on a board with a dish of sauce next to it and some lime.

    A finger lickin’ good wing

    When the Internet swarms you with images of people enjoying their Fish Sauce Chicken Wings (also lovingly known to us Vietnamese as ‘Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm’), you know it’s time to bring some to your own table!

    This is one of those dishes that fits perfectly with a Summer barbecue – searing meat on the grill, fresh salad to go, your family’s best fried rice and a plate of crispy fried chicken wings.

    You can actually SEE what sets our recipe apart from all the others. The deeply golden garlic bits hugging each wing and glorious fish sauce caramel turns a humble piece of chicken into a showstopper.

    But what you can’t see is what makes our Fish Sauce Chicken Wings truly memorable. The coating seals the juices in so perfectly that every bite is unbelievably succulent and full of classic Vietnamese flavors.

    Of all the fried chicken I’ve had, this is my favorite. My husband and friends agree too; they’ve often requested for Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm to be made for parties!

    A hand holding a Fish Sauce Chicken Wing over a plate of fried wings.

    Why this recipe works

    • Marinating the meat means the marinade penetrates through so you have flavor inside and out.
    • Using a corn starch and baking powder mix for our Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm results in a risen and super crunchy batter. Plus, it’s gluten-free as well!
    • Double frying the wings helps the crisp last hours long.

    What you’ll need

    For the Marinade

    Dishes of garlic powder, fish sauce, salt, chicken bouillon powder and pepper.

    About the garlic seasoning

    We chose to use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic so that it would be easier to coat in starch. With chopped garlic, bits might fall off as it cooks.

    But if garlic powder isn’t available then fresh garlic is definitely a great aromatic to add.

    For the Sauce

    Dishes of chopped spring onions, chopped red shallots, water, lime juice, chopped and whole garlic, chili, fish sauce and sugar.

    About the seasoning

    This Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm recipe uses brown sugar for the deeper color and toffee-like sweetness but white sugar will still work well.

    For the batter

    A bowl of corn starch and a dish of baking powder.

    About the starch

    We used corn starch for the coating, but if that’s not readily available then you can substitute it for potato starch or tapioca starch.

    How to make this recipe

    A bowl of wings marinating.

    Marinate the chicken in the garlic powder, chicken bouillon powder, pepper, salt and fish sauce for 20 minutes minimum. Alternatively, make it ahead of time to marinate overnight.

    Fried garlic in a small pan.

    Using a low heat, add the chopped garlic to 2 tbsp cooking oil and let it fry until golden.

    Tip: It may be tempting to turn the heat up for a quicker brown, but this could run the risk of burning the garlic. It’s best to keep the temperature low and steady.

    A hand holding a bag of wings coated in corn starch.

    Use a zip lock bag to shake and coat the marinated wings in the starch mixture.

    A colander of wings coated in corn starch over a bowl.

    Pour the chicken into a colander to shake off any excess.

    Wings frying in oil in a wok.

    Add oil into a deep pan or wok and fry the wings on a medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until lightly golden brown and cooked.

    Set aside to drip dry in a sieve over a bowl.

    Fried wings in a sieve over a bowl.

    Bring the heat back up to high and fry the wings for a second time for 2 minutes or until they develop a deeper golden color. Transfer onto a sieve to drip dry or on a plate lined with paper towels.

    A mortar and pestle smashing garlic and chili.

    Use a mortor and pestle to mash the garlic and chili, then set aside as you work on the sauce.

    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings sauce cooking in a pot.

    Pour 4 tbsp oil in a saucepan and brown the red shallots. Add in the sugar, fish sauce, garlic, chili and water to caramelize for 15 minutes or until it reaches a thick consistency, then stir the lime juice and spring onions in.

    Mix the fried wings back into the sauce and toss until all are coated.

    Serve immediately as is!

    FAQs

    What can I use if I don’t have corn starch?

    There are many substitutes for corn starch, but the one that is often used for the most similar result is potato starch. If that’s not available then arrowroot flour, tapioca flour or rice flour will also work.
    Just keep in mind that using the latter options might produce a slightly different batter, so experiment as you cook and adjust accordingly.

    Can I make these in advance and freeze them?

    Yes, you can! Fish Sauce Chicken Wings need to be given time to cool down and then just put them in a freeze-safe sealed bag or container. They will last for up to 4 months. To cook, simply refry and make the sauce to coat.

    How long can you store them for?

    If you’ve made the Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm and need to store leftovers, keep them in a sealed airtight container and they will keep for up to 3 days. Just keep in mind that the batter will soften and no longer be crispy.

    Tips for the best results

    • Double or triple fry the wings. To keep the batter crisp for longer, cook the wings until 80% golden and let it drip dry in a colander. Bring the heat up to fry again until completely golden. You can repeat this for a triple fry.
    • Coat the wings when they’re still hot. The sauce will seep into the coating much better with a warmer temperature.
    • Marinate the chicken for longer. Ideally overnight, but the longer you marinate, the better because then every drop of sauce and bit of seasoning penetrates deeper into the chicken.
    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings on a board with a dish of sauce next to it and some cucumber slices and lime.

    Get the whole family together with more delicious appetizers!

    • Seafood Rolls – Springy and succulent on the inside, these restaurant-style crowd pleasers will have everyone wanting more.
    • Ham Sui Gok (Fried Glutinous Rice Dumplings 咸水角) – Crispy and chewy on the outside with a delicious pork mince filling. These are the perfect way to start any meal.
    • Bò Bía (Rice Paper Rolls with Chinese Sausage and Eggs) – Combine stir fried vegetables with paper thin omelette and sliced Chinese sausage for this satisfying rice paper roll.
    • Bì Cuốn (Shredded Pork Rice Paper Roll) – Light, fresh and super simple, you’ll love how much texture is in these rolls.
    • Chao Tom (Sugar Cane Shrimp) – Gather everyone home with these springy and wonderfully fragrant shrimp paste sticks.
    • Gỏi Cuốn (Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls) – A Vietnamese classic that cannot be overlooked. Find all the tips and tricks for the perfect summer roll!

    Want more home cooked recipes?

    Subscribe to our email list and be the first to get recipe updates as soon as they’re posted. You can also follow Wok & Kin on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!

    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings on a board with a dish of sauce next to it and some lime.

    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings (Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm)

    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings are wings of your dreams! They stay crispy for HOURS. Each one is coated with garlic bits that will rock every party!
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 922kcal
    Author: Jeannette

    Equipment

    • Mortar and pestle
    • Zip lock bag
    • Colander
    • Sieve or dish lined with paper towels (for the excess oil)

    Ingredients

    For The Marinade

    • 1 kg / 2.2 lb chicken wings
    • 2 tsp garlic powder
    • 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
    • 1 1/2 tsp pepper
    • 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
    • 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

    For The Sauce

    • 10 cloves garlic (2 left whole, the rest finely chopped)
    • 1 sprig spring onion (chopped)
    • 4 chili (optional)
    • 3 red shallot (finely chopped)
    • 4 tbsp brown sugar
    • 3 tbsp fish sauce
    • 6 tbsp oil (2 tbsp for frying the chopped garlic, 4 for browning the red shallots)
    • 3 tbsp lime juice
    • 4 tbsp water

    For The Batter

    • 1/2 US cup corn starch
    • 1/2 tsp baking powder
    • cooking oil (for frying)

    Instructions

    • Marinate the chicken in the garlic powder, chicken bouillon powder, pepper, salt and fish sauce for 20 minutes minimum. Alternatively, make it ahead of time to marinate overnight.
    • Using a low heat, add the chopped garlic to 2 tbsp cooking oil and let it fry until golden.
      Tip: It may be tempting to turn the heat up for a quicker brown, but this could run the risk of burning the garlic. It's best to keep the temperature low and steady.
    • Use a zip lock bag to shake and coat the marinated wings in the starch mixture.
    • Pour the chicken into a colander to shake off any excess.
    • Add oil into a deep pan or wok and fry the wings on a medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until lightly golden brown and cooked.
      Set aside to drip dry in a sieve over a bowl.
    • Bring the heat back up to high and fry the wings for a second time for 2 minutes or until they develop a deeper golden color. Transfer onto a sieve to drip dry or on a plate lined with paper towels.
    • Use a mortor and pestle to mash the garlic and chili, then set aside as you work on the sauce.
    • Pour 4 tbsp oil in a saucepan and brown the red shallots. Add in the sugar, fish sauce, garlic, chili and water to caramelize for 15 minutes or until it reaches a thick consistency, then stir the lime juice and spring onions in.
    • Mix the fried wings back into the sauce and toss until all are coated.
    • Stir in the fried chopped garlic until well combined.
    • Serve immediately as is!

    Video

    Notes

    • Double or triple fry the wings. To keep the batter crisp for longer, cook the wings until 80% golden and let it drip dry in a colander. Bring the heat up to fry again until completely golden. You can repeat this for a triple fry.
    • Coat the wings when they're still hot. The sauce will seep into the coating much better with a warmer temperature.
    • Marinate the chicken for longer. Ideally overnight, but the longer you marinate, the better because then every drop of sauce and bit of seasoning penetrates deeper into the chicken.
    • This Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm recipe uses brown sugar for the deeper color and toffee-like sweetness but white sugar will still work well.
    • We used corn starch for the coating, but if that's not readily available then you can substitute it for potato starch or tapioca starch.
    • We chose to use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic so that it would be easier to coat in starch. But if garlic powder isn't available then fresh garlic is definitely a great aromatic to add.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 922kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 63g | Fat: 67g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 256mg | Sodium: 1286mg | Potassium: 645mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 509IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me TODAY!If you recreated this authentic recipe, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @wokandkin.

    This post was originally published on 21/07/20 and updated with new photos in April 2022.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary says

      July 22, 2020 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      This is sooo good! I love fried chicken anyway (who doesn’t?) but these flavors take it over the top!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        July 22, 2020 at 6:11 pm

        Fried chicken is too good to pass! I do also love these added flavors! ;D

        Reply
    2. Jessica says

      July 22, 2020 at 9:35 am

      5 stars
      I love fish sauce, so I know I’ll love these wings! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        July 22, 2020 at 6:11 pm

        Fish sauce is the bomb! Thanks, Jessica!

        Reply
    3. Kathryn Donangelo says

      July 22, 2020 at 9:45 am

      5 stars
      Wow the flavors in these chicken wings totally make this whole recipe- so delicious! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        July 22, 2020 at 6:11 pm

        You’re welcome, Kathryn!

        Reply
    4. Irina says

      July 22, 2020 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      We love chicken wings and experiment with their recipes often. Love that your recipe will end up with crispy wings. I cannot wait to give it a try!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        July 22, 2020 at 6:12 pm

        Double frying is the best fried chicken secret ;D I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

        Reply
    5. Anita says

      July 22, 2020 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      These are so good! Even the wings as is are delicious, and with that sauce, they are heavenly. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe, Jeannette.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        July 22, 2020 at 6:12 pm

        Thanks, Anita! You’re so very welcome!

        Reply
    6. AR says

      September 22, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      Thanks for the recipe . Water and lime juice are listed in the sauce ingredients but I don’t see it in the procedure. Is it added with the fish sauce?

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        September 22, 2020 at 9:17 pm

        Thanks for the spot! Yes, you can add those when you caramelize the fish sauce. I’ve fixed that part of the recipe!

        Reply
    7. Juanita says

      November 08, 2020 at 5:10 am

      Can an air fryer be used instead of frying directly in oil?
      Thanks! Cooking newbie

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        November 08, 2020 at 9:38 am

        Hi Juanita! You certainly can use the air fryer for this recipe 😀

        Reply
    8. Sasha says

      February 07, 2021 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      This is a phenomenal recipe! I didn’t have any chilis at home so I used 2 tbsp of Sweet Chili Sauce and it was great. I used my airfryer. My executive chef husband said they were the best wings ever, so now we’re going to have them every Sunday night!

      THANK YOU SO MUCH!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        February 08, 2021 at 3:53 pm

        I love how you used what you had on hand! I’m so glad you and you husband loved them! Great to get the seal of approval from an executive chef 😀

        Reply
    9. Rene says

      May 28, 2021 at 5:41 am

      Hi! I want to make this tonight and see spring onion in the recipe list but I don’t see it in the directions. Maybe I’m blind and missing it. Or it’s for a topping? Thanks

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 28, 2021 at 10:25 pm

        Hi, Rene! I’ve updated the recipe to include the spring onions. Thanks for the spot! You can mix it in at the end with the lime juice 🙂

        Reply
    10. Tori says

      October 28, 2021 at 7:52 am

      Can you make these without the batter and either bake or air fry them instead?

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        October 28, 2021 at 6:35 pm

        Hi, Tori! You sure can but just mix in less of the sauce until it reaches your preferred taste. It won’t be the same texture as the battered ones, but the taste will still be there.

        Reply
    11. Tori says

      October 29, 2021 at 1:21 am

      Thank you Jeannette, I prepped this too early. Can I keep the chicken marinated for 2days in the fridge?

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        November 01, 2021 at 7:11 pm

        Hi, Tori! Certainly! Just let it come to room temperature before you fry it so it’s not so tough.

        Reply
    12. Hb says

      October 08, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      My wings cane out very sour. I accidentally added the lime juice at the beginning of making the sauce-wonder if that made that difference.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        January 07, 2023 at 1:54 pm

        Hi! I’m sorry to hear that it came out sour. Generally when lime juice is added at the beginning (and cooked with heat), the sourness will lessen. So I suspect it may not have been that. Perhaps next time you can try adding it just a bit at a time and tasting the sauce as you cook it. Different limes will have different levels of sourness. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    13. Lahn says

      October 30, 2022 at 4:36 pm

      Has anyone tried this recipe using an air fryer and was it successful?

      Reply
    14. Crystal says

      February 27, 2023 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      Best wings I’ve ever made. 🤤🤤🤤

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        February 27, 2023 at 5:52 pm

        Hi, Crystal! I’m so glad they turned out well for you! 😀

        Reply
    15. Lisa says

      March 12, 2023 at 3:15 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for dinner tonight and it was really good. The sauce did caramelize until I added the lime juice and it was runny again. Therefore, the sauce was not as thick as I like, but the sweet, sour, spicy sauce was really good on the wings.
      The family loved it so that’s all that matters.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        March 14, 2023 at 9:11 pm

        Hi, Lisa! I’m glad the taste was to your liking! To thicken the sauce for next time, you can try letting it simmer for longer to get thicker than this time and then add the lime juice in. Just keep in mind that the longer the sauce cooks for, the more concentrated it becomes. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    16. H says

      March 13, 2023 at 6:13 am

      This was amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        March 14, 2023 at 9:12 pm

        i! I’m so glad it worked out for you! You’re most welcome 😀

        Reply
    5 from 13 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings on a board with a dish of sauce next to it and some lime.
    A hand holding a Fish Sauce Chicken Wing over a plate of fried wings.
    Fish Sauce Chicken Wings on a board with a dish of sauce next to it and some cucumber slices and lime.

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