Instructions – 

Step 1: Start by thoroughly washing your chicken wings and drumsticks, then use a paper towel to gently pat them dry, ensuring a clean and dry surface.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper, and sea salt to create your flavorful dry rub mixture.

Step 3: Transfer your chicken wings and drumsticks to the large bowl and generously rub them with the dry rub mixture, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated. Set them aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate and penetrate the meat.

Step 4: In a separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and baking powder to prepare the breading mixture. You can use a food processor to pulse these starch ingredients a few times for a finer and well-combined texture. This step ensures a smooth and even coating for your chicken wings.

Step 5: Coat each seasoned wing and drumstick one by one with the breading mixture, ensuring an even and thorough coating. This technique is key to achieving a crispy skin texture. Once coated, place them neatly on a baking sheet, ready for the next step.

Step 6: Before air frying your chicken, it’s crucial to lightly spray nonstick cooking spray on both the surface of the air fryer basket and the wings and drumsticks. This prevents sticking and helps achieve that desired crispy texture.

Step 7: When placing your chicken in the air fryer basket, ensure they are not overcrowded. Leave space between each piece to allow proper airflow. It may be necessary to cook them in batches, avoiding the temptation to add them all at once. This ensures thorough cooking and prevents any wings from becoming soggy.

Step 8: Set your air fryer to 400°F/200°C. Cook the wings for 30 minutes, but start with 15 minutes for even browning. Then, flip each piece over, and cook for an additional 15 minutes to ensure they are perfectly cooked until golden brown on all sides. Once done, transfer the wings to a metal cooking rack to rest for a few minutes, avoiding direct contact with the baking tray to maintain their crispiness.

Step 9: While the wings are cooking or resting. It is time to make this fragrant and delicious Vietnamese dipping sauce. You can make this sauce in a food processor or with a mortar & pestle.  

Food processor method: It’s as easy as can be. Add water, fish sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and a squeeze of lime juice to the food processor. Pulse a few times until well mixed. For the Fresno chili pepper and cilantro, chop them finely and garnish the wings for a visually appealing presentation.

Mortar & Pestle method: If you have one at home, use it for the best flavor. Start by grinding brown sugar and garlic into a paste, then add fish sauce, water, and lime juice. Enhance the flavor with diced Fresno chili pepper and chopped cilantro. Use the remaining pepper and cilantro as a garnish for the wings. 

Step 10: After cooking in the air fryer for 30 minutes, your wings are ready to be enjoyed! I recommend placing them on a bed of fresh lettuce for an appealing presentation and to maintain their crispy texture. Lettuce adds visual appeal and is a barrier to prevent condensation from making the wings soggy. Whether serving them as game-day snacks or pairing them with a bowl of white rice for a comforting meal, these wings will satisfy your appetite.