Boiled chicken feet are a simple and easy-to-prepare dish. Boiled chicken feet can be eaten directly or used to make delicious dishes such as Thai-style sauce chicken feet, lemongrass and tamarind chicken feet…
Boiling chicken feet is relatively easy, but you can’t just put the chicken feet in boiling water and cook them until they are done. To have the finished product of crispy, white chicken feet without discoloration, you also need some small tips.
Choosing good chicken feet
You should choose chicken feet that are naturally white and pink in color. The surface of the skin should be relatively even in color, without any unusual colors such as green, red, or yellow spots. When touching each chicken foot, there should be no stickiness or unusual fishy smell.
You should buy chicken feet from reputable places, such as supermarkets or stores that sell clean food.
Prepping the chicken feet
Preparing the chicken feet is extremely important. You need to clean any dirt on the feet to ensure hygiene.
You need to cut off the sharp claws of the chicken feet to make it easier to eat. Try to remove the clinging layer of skin on the surface of the chicken feet. Use diluted saltwater or vinegar to wash the chicken feet, to remove dirt on the skin and eliminate any unusual odors. Then, rinse the chicken feet with clean water and let them dry.
If using frozen chicken feet, you need to fully thaw them before boiling to avoid the issue of red bones.
If you have the time, you can remove the bones to make boneless chicken feet.
Tips for boiling chicken feet
To make the boiled chicken feet fragrant and delicious, you need to add some crushed lemongrass and sliced ginger to the boiling water.
If you want the chicken feet to have a eye-catching yellow color, you can mix them with a little turmeric powder and let them sit for about 15 minutes, or directly add turmeric powder to the boiling water. If you want the chicken feet to have a natural white color, you can skip this step.
Put the pot of water on the stove, add lemongrass, ginger, and chicken feet, and cook until the water boils, then reduce the heat to simmer. Boil the chicken feet for about 5 minutes.
While waiting for the chicken feet to cook, prepare a bowl of boiling water to cool down, add some ice cubes, squeeze lemon juice into the water and put the lemon peel in the bowl.
After the water has boiled for about 5 minutes, turn off the heat, soak the chicken feet in the water for about 2 minutes until they are fully cooked, then remove them and soak them in the prepared ice water. This method will help the chicken feet remain crispy, fragrant, and not become discolored. When the chicken feet have cooled, remove them from the water and drain them before arranging them on a plate or using them to cook various dishes according to your preference.