In recent years, chicken feet have been increasingly embraced by western culture. However, most westerners still refuse to see it at the dinner table. In most Europese kitchens, the chicken feet will be served in the bin. For those who still hold a negative view of chicken feet, we are sure you will fall in love with them after reading this.
Phoenix Feet
In China, chicken feet are also known as “Phoenix Feet” and show us how deep the love of chicking is. It is unknown when the first time that the Phoenix Feet is serviced at the dinner table but is an everyday dish in every family in China. The cooking method is the only difference among the family dinner table. The Soy Bean Chicken Feet will be served in the Cantonese cuisine, Chicken Feet with Pepper in the Hunan cuisine, and Chicken Feet with Chili Oil in the Sichuan cuisine.
The entire feet of a chicken – including bones, tendons, and cartilage – will be used in the dish. It is a fact that chicken feet are rich in collagen and calcium. So, besides the tasty taste, they are also good for your health. The abundant collagen, vitamins, and calcium are conducive to softening blood vessels as well as rejuvenating skin.
Hot or cold
In general, there are two ways to prepare chicken feet. One way is to stew them for a long time until the skin and meat are so tender that they would melt in your mouth. Even the bone would be softened and can be easily swallowed. Besides, the nutrients of chicken feet can be absorbed in the best way, including containing the flavor. Another way to prepare chicken feet is a cold dish. The texture remains al dente and refreshing.
Dishes of chicken feet are commonly seen in Chinese restaurants. The process to make a cold dish at home is quite simple and the ingredients are highly available. The easiest and most popular way to prepare chicken feet in China is the Spicy and Sour Chicken Feet. Be careful, once you tasted this dish, you might fall in love with it!
Some extra ingredients in your shopping basket
Chicken feet are widely available, you can get them from a local chicken farmer, a butcher or in a supermarket. The important ingredient is chicken feet, but please do not forget some ingredients, such as soy sauce, cooking oil, cooking wine, vinegar, garlic, ginger, coriander and lemon. To create a deeper flavour, add some passion fruit and pepper.
Try it yourself!
Ready to prepare the chicken feet by yourself? Put the processed chicken feet into a pot of cold water and steam it until the water is boiled. When the water is boiled, take the chicken feet out of the boiled water and put them in a pot of cold water. Add some ingredients, such as sliced ginger, lemon and wine, to the chicken feet and cook for another 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, put the chicken – preferably icy – water, which could increase the texture and makes it more tender. Mix all the seasoning – soy sauce, cooking oil, vinegar, chopped garlic, sliced ginger, chopped coriander and sliced lemon – in a container and rest it for at least 6 hours. You will be amazed how refreshing this dish be will.
