Though it's not essential to make both sauces for these wings, we think the contrast between the rich peanut sauce and the light-yet-spicy gai yang — a classic Thai sauce for poultry — is a flavor combination that shouldn't be missed.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 6 as an hors d'oeuvre or 4 as a main course
Ingredients
For peanut sauce
For gai yang sauce
Preparation
Step 1
Cut off wing tips, reserving for another use, and halve wings at joint. In a bowl whisk together oil, lemon juice, and salt to taste. Add wings and stir to coat. Marinate wings, covered and chilled, at least 1 hour and up to 8.
Make peanut sauce:
Step 2
Mince shallots and garlic. In a food processor finely grind peanuts until they begin to get oily. In a small heavy saucepan heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook shallots, garlic, and curry paste, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in ground peanuts and coconut milk and simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently, until mixture is slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in lime juice, brown sugar, and salt to taste. (If sauce is too thick, stir in additional coconut milk.) Peanut sauce may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring sauce to room temperature before serving.
Make gai yang sauce:
Step 3
Wearing protective gloves, mince chiles. Mince garlic and in a small saucepan simmer with chiles and remaining ingredients, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Cool sauce to room temperature. Gai yang sauce may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring sauce to room temperature before serving.
Step 4
Prepare grill.
Step 5
Drain wings in a colander and pat dry. Grill wings on an oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until cooked through and golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes on each side.
Step 6
Serve wings with sauces and cucumber salad.
