Cajun Chicken Wings Recipe

   
  12                    Chicken wings -- tips removed
   5                    Bay leaves -- crumbled into bits
     3/4  teaspoon      Caraway seeds
     1/2                To 3/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
     3/4  teaspoon      Ground cumin
     3/4  teaspoon      Ground coriander
   4                    Garlic cloves -- finely
     
   1 1/2  teaspoons     Dry mustard
   2      teaspoons     Paprika -- preferably
     
     3/4  teaspoon      Dried thyme leaves
     1/2  teaspoon      Salt
   2      tablespoons   Brandy
   2      tablespoons   Fresh lemon or lime juice

Defat the chicken wings by cooking them in boiling water for 10 minutes.
Drain and set aside to cool.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using a large
mortar and pestle, grind together the bay leaf bits, caraway seeds,
cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin, garlic, mustard, paprika, thyme and salt
for about 10 minutes.  Add the brandy and lemon or lime juice to the
pulverized herbs and stir into a thick paste. With a pastry brush, cover
both sides of each wing with the herb paste. When no more remains in the
mortar, squeeze the last few drops from the brush. Arrange the chicken
wings on a baking sheet. Bake until the skin turns deep brown and is quite
crisp approximately 30 minutes. Takes about an hour to prepare.

AFRICAN CHICKEN WINGS

                        FOR THE WINGS
   4                    Garlic cloves
   2                    Shallots
   1 1/2  teaspoons     Salt
   1      tablespoon    Chinese 5 spice
   2      teaspoons     Paprika
   1      teaspoon      Dried rosemary -- crumbled
     1/2  teaspoon      Cayenne -- or to taste
   2      tablespoons   Vegetable oil
   4      pounds        Chicken wings -- about 20-24
                        Tips removed
                        FOR THE SAUCE
     1/3  cup           Natural style peanut butter
     1/4  cup           Canned cream of coconut --
                        Well stirred
   2                    Garlic cloves -- chopped
     1/4  cup           Water
     1/4  cup           Red bell pepper -- chopped
     1/8  teaspoon      Dried hot red pepper flakes
                        Or to taste
   1      teaspoon      Soy sauce
                        Coriander sprigs

THE WINGS: Prepare the chicken wings: Mince and mash the garlic and
shallots to a paste with the salt. In a large bowl stir the paste together
with the 5 spice powder, paprika, rosemary, cayenne, and the oil. Mix
well. Add the chicken wings. Toss and stir them until they are completely
covered with the marinade. Let them marinate, covered and chilled for 4
hours or over night. Arrange the wings, skin side up, on the rack of a
foil lined large broiler pan and bake them in the upper third of a
preheated 425F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until they are golden. The
wings may be prepared one day in advance, kept covered and chilled and
then reheated before serving. THE SAUCE: In a blender, blend together the
peanut butter, cream of coconut, garlic, water, bell pepper, red pepper
flakes and the soy sauce until the mixture is smooth, season the sauce
with salt, to taste. THE PRESENTATION:
Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl set on a platter.
Arrange the wings around the bowl and garnish the platter with the
coriander.