Chicken Feet Recipe. For some people, chicken feet or chicken claws are considered an unusual part of an animal, which is usually discarded. However, for some people, chicken feet are a vital ingredient that can be transformed into various delicacies. And for me, I belong to the latter one. My favorite chicken feet dish is dim sum chicken feet. I love that fabulous softness and savory taste.  Chicken Feet Recipe: Here is the ultimate guide on how to make dim sum-style chicken feet at home.

Why are there so many haters?

People from the US or Europe don’t eat chicken feet because they may think that chicken feet are too dirty to eat. Also, people don’t know how to deal with chicken feet. Usually, you can find that chicken feet are made into dog treats.  Chicken Feet Recipe. Another reason may be that chicken feet are not as meaty as other parts of the chicken.

Chicken feet also have lovers.

However, chicken feet are greatly beloved by people from other parts of the world.  Chicken Feet Recipe The Chinese gourmets even grant an auspicious name to chicken feet, that is, “phoenix paws”. And chicken feet are cooked into cold dishes, snacks, soups, and main dishes in China. And in South Korea, people invent Korean-style spicy chicken feet. In other Asian countries, like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, dishes made of chicken feet are also quite common and popular. Even in Mexico, chicken feet are a popular ingredient, and they are mainly made into stews and soups.

What’s the taste of chicken feet

The edible parts of chicken feet consist of the skin and tendons, with little meat. The distinct gelatinous texture of chicken feet provides you with an abundance of collagen. For most dishes, chicken feet are cooked into a soft and tender texture, and absorb the flavors of seasonings or spices. Especially when chicken feet are used for making soup, after being simmered for one or two hours, the chicken feet will almost fall apart when being picked up, and you don’t even need to chew anymore.  Chicken Feet Recipe: A mouthful of gelatin will break up in your mouth with the fresh flavor of the soup.

Also Read: Thin Sliced Chicken Breast Recipes: Healthy & Flavorful Meals  

Purchasing tip

When you go to the market to purchase some chicken feet, you may find that the yellowish, hard skin of chicken feet is already removed. Fresh chicken feet should have white and glossy skin, and they should also be of a thick and elastic texture.  Chicken Feet Recipe. If you touch the chicken’s feet and find that the surface of the chicken’s feet is a little sticky, it shows that these chicken feet have been stored for too long and are not fresh enough for eating.   

How to prepare chicken feet for cooking

Before you cook chicken feet, you should clean them in the following steps:

Remove the yellowish outer skin (ignore this step if the skin is already removed). You can put the chicken feet in boiling water for one or two minutes and then transfer them to ice water. In this way, it will be easier for you to get rid of the tough outer skin.

Use a kitchen scissor to chop off the nails of chicken feet.

Chop chicken feet in half or into small pieces as you like, if you intend to make pickled chicken feet or cold chicken feet. Just keep them as a whole if you intend to make soup or other dishes.

How to eat chicken feet

If you have never eaten chicken feet before, here are some tips for you:

It is hard for you to eat chicken feet with knives and forks. The chopsticks are highly recommended. And if you don’t like using chopsticks, just use your hand with a disposable glove.

You can take your first bite from the toes of chicken feet. Bite one from one, and the next step needs the cooperation of your tongue and mouth to separate the little bones and the skin. Spit the bones out and just enjoy the remaining part in your mouth.  Chicken Feet Recipe, and I think the most important tip for you is that you should not swallow the little bones of chicken feet.

Dim Sum Chicken Feet

The Chinese name of this dish is tiger skin chicken feet, and there is a similar dish named tiger skin green peppers. Tiger skin is named because of the wrinkles on the surface.

The making process is relatively complex. We need at least four steps: boiling-deep frying, soaking, braising, or steaming. No matter how complex the dish is, there is a big group of fans. Of course, they are available at the dim sum restaurant. I have tested the recipe three times, but I cannot get the texture satisfying enough. The taste is really wonderful.  Chicken Feet Recipe. So I decided to post it on the blog just for home cooking reference. You can follow this to make super easy dim sum-style chicken feet at home. It is such a great success!

Ingredients breakdown

Some ingredients need to be paid attention to for this dim sum-style chicken feet.

Chicken feet – I use around 500g chicken feet, which may range from 12 to 14.

Fermented black beans – also referred to as Chinese fermented black beans are the essential ingredient for this dim sum-style chicken feet. It has a complex and unique flavor, salty and earthy, with a strong aroma of fermented products.

Aromatics – ginger and garlic can help to improve the aroma.

Chili peppers- chili peppers are optionally, but traditionally, a small amount is added to add a hint of hotness to the dish.

Chili paste – I add chili paste to the sauce. Totally optional.

Also Read: Mango Sago Recipe: Creamy, Refreshing & Easy Dessert

How to reheat dim sum chicken feet

You can use a microwave to reheat it. But the most ideal way is to steam them. Set up a steamer and steam for 10 minutes. Steaming can make the taste even better, so it is 100% ok to make a larger batch.

What to serve with

Eating chicken feet may be quite time-consuming. So you can serve this with tea for more leisure time. Since it is quite savory in taste, you can also serve it with soups or congee.

Instructions

Prepare the chicken feet.

Cut the claws off and any dirty parts on the chicken’s feet. You can choose to keep them as whole pieces or cut them into smaller pieces.

Blanching and drying

Then bring enough water to a boil in a large pot, and add scallion, ginger, and cooking wine. Cook the chicken feet for around 2 minutes.

Pat drying

This is a very important step to avoid the oil splattering out during the cooking process. If there is enough time, I will recommend that you place the chicken feet for air frying to make sure there is no water on the surface.

Deep-frying

Heat oil in a wok and add the chicken feet to deep fry until they turn dark golden brown. It is extremely important to make sure the water content is removed by the deep-frying process so the tiger skin can be achieved.

Boil to strengthen the tender skin.

I learn this from a Cantonese chef: if you further cook the soaked chicken feet, the tiger skin can be strengthened. So place the soaked chicken feet in boiling water, and continue cooking for 8 to 12 minutes based on how soft you want them to be.

An Air-frying method instead of deep-frying

If you don’t want to use the deep-frying method, you can use an air fryer to help. Spread some oil on the drained chicken feet. Place in an air fryer preheated to 375°F. Leave to fry for about 10 to 12 minutes until the skin is completely dried. I have made the test with the air-frying method, and it works perfectly.

Conclusion

Chicken feet may seem strange to some, but they are a favorite and delicious dish in many countries around the world.  Chicken Feet Recipe. They are high in collagen, which gives them a soft and chewy texture, and they absorb the flavors of spices very well. Dim sum-style chicken feet require a little time and effort to prepare, but when they are ready, they taste incredibly delicious.  Chicken Feet Recipe. If you know how to clean and cook chicken feet properly, this dish can be easily made at home. If you have never had them before, then definitely try them; it might become your new favorite dish.

FAQS