Air fryer Vietnamese fish sauce chicken wings (Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm) deliver all the finger-lickin’ goodness of traditional Vietnamese chicken wings, but with fewer calories and less fat than deep frying.
Fish Sauce Chicken Wings – Vietnam’s “Finger-Lickin’ Good”
If Japan has Chicken Karaage and Korea shines with Yangnyeom, we Vietnamese proudly present our own version of fried chicken that’s just as irresistible.
Every weekend, my mom would whip up a feast of crispy, golden Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm (fish sauce chicken wings), deep-fried with love and bursting with flavor.
My modern twist keeps the tradition alive with a healthier spin. Tender chicken wings are enveloped in a crunchy, golden crust and glazed with an addictive sweet-and-savory fish sauce. Using an air fryer cuts the grease without cutting corners on flavor.
While Vietnamese cuisine is celebrated for its light and wholesome dishes like Phở and fresh spring rolls, indulgent treats like Bánh Xèo and Fish Sauce Chicken Wings are proof that we know how to do comfort food, too!
What is fish sauce?
Made from fermented fish and salt, fish sauce is a staple ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. It has an umami, salty flavor with a strong odor. We use it for making dipping sauces like Nước Chấm and Nước Mắm Gừng or for marinating and seasoning.
Ingredients
Key ingredients for Vietnamese Fish Sauce Chicken Wings (Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm)
- For the marinade: chicken powder and garlic powder, infusing the wings with a savory flavor to complement the sweet and umami fish sauce glaze.
- For the batter: cornstarch and baking powder. The secret of cripsy chicken wing is dry skin. Cornstarch and baking powder help draw moisture to the surface, where it can evaporate. These ingredients are essential for achieving that perfect wing texture.
- For the sauce: fish sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, butter, lime juice, minced garlic, fresh chili, and cilantro, creating a sweet, savory, and fresh combination.
Helpful Tips
- If you don’t eat fish sauce, you can substitute it with an equal amount of soy sauce. It’ll still be delicious!
- You could replace cornstarch with potato starch, tapioca starch.
- For a twist, you can replace cilantro with other Vietnamese herbs such as culantro or Thai basil.
- If you love chicken as well as Vietnamese food, check my collection of Vietnamese chicken recipes . Some popular dishes are Gà Roti and Gà Nướng.
More delicious Asian chicken recipes
Air Fryer Vietnamese Fish Sauce Chicken Wings (Gluten-free)
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Sauce pan
Ingredients
Chicken wings marinade
- 1.1 pound chicken wings (500g) (cut into flats and drumettes)
- ½ tsp chicken powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
For the batter
- ½ tbsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
For the fish sauce glaze
- 2 tbsp sugar (to your taste)
- 2 tbsp fish sauce (to your taste)
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (to your taste)
- 1 tbsp butter (15g)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh chilli (goat horn, jalapenos or Thai bird’s eye red chilies)
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro (to your taste)
- 1 tbsp lime juice (to your taste)
Instructions
The crispy chicken wings:
- Set your air fryer to preheat at 180°C (356°F).
- Use paper towels to pat the wings' skin dry.
- In a mixing bowl, combine chicken powder and garlic powder. Add the chicken wings and toss them to evenly coat.
- Add cornstarch and baking powder to the bowl. Toss the chicken wings again to ensure even coating, and shake off any excess.
- Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air-fry the chicken wings for 15 minutes.
- Increase the temperature to 200°C (376°F), flip the wings, air fry them for other 10 minutes until they are crispy and golden brown.
The fish sauce glaze:
- Heat a small saucepan and sauté the minced garlic for 1-2 minutes until it becomes fragrant. Next, add the fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar into the saucepan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to simmer for approximately 1 minute, thickening slightly.
- Add the butter and stir until it melts. Finally, add lime juice, chopped cilantro, and fresh chili to the sauce.
- After cooking the chicken wings, take them out of the air fryer and transfer them to a spacious mixing bowl. Drizzle the fish sauce glaze over the wings and toss them gently to ensure an even coating.
- Serve the chicken wings hot and enjoy!
[…] Get the full recipe here. […]