Lemon Chicken Feet
In China, lemon chicken feet are a particularly popular snack. They have a sour, spicy, and sweet taste, with delicious meat. I know some people enjoy chicken feet while others do not, but this lemon chicken feet recipe is sure to change your mind. Join me in learning how to make this dish!
In the kitchen, we Chinese use the whole chicken. Apart from feathers and bones, we can cook a chicken from head to toe, from skin to innards, and serve it on the table. Today's lemon chicken feet, very popular in China, are loved by both young and old, much like Buffalo-style chicken wings. To make delicious lemon chicken feet, there are several key points you need to know:
1. What is Lemon Chicken Feet?
Lemon chicken feet are a home-cooked dish made primarily from chicken feet and lemon, complemented by ingredients such as small chili peppers, carrots, white vinegar, soy sauce, star anise, and cinnamon. Lemon chicken feet are widely appreciated for their unique sour and spicy taste and the chewy texture of the chicken feet.
Lemon chicken feet are not only a delicious dish on the dining table but also rich in nutritional value. For instance, the collagen protein in chicken feet is beneficial for maintaining skin elasticity and gloss, while lemons are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which help boost immunity and metabolism.
2. How long should the chicken feet be cooked?
To make lemon chicken feet, it's recommended to cook the chicken feet until they are tender. Typically, it's suggested to boil them for about 12-15 minutes, at which point the chicken feet will have the perfect texture. However, if you prefer a chewier texture, you can boil them for 8-10 minutes. Remember not to overcook the chicken feet, as it can damage the skin and shape.
3. How to remove the smell from chicken feet?
Many people dislike eating chicken feet because they perceive a fishy smell, but if handled properly, chicken feet can be free of any unpleasant odor.
To remove the smell from chicken feet, you can add some ginger slices, green onion segments, and cooking wine while boiling them. After boiling, remove any foam that rises to the surface. These ingredients effectively eliminate the fishy smell from the chicken feet. In China, this step is commonly referred to as "blanching."
4. Why soak the cooked chicken feet in cold water?
After boiling the chicken feet, they are immediately removed and soaked in cold water primarily to maintain their texture and color. Plunging the blanched chicken feet into cold water causes the meat to contract, resulting in a tender and chewy texture. Additionally, cooling the chicken feet in cold water reduces their temperature, making them ready to eat immediately and avoiding the adverse effects of high temperatures on the oral cavity.
Now that you're familiar with these techniques for making lemon chicken feet, I believe you have a better understanding of them. Let's get started and try making delicious lemon chicken feet together!
INGREDIENTS
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- 600 g chicken feet
- 1 lemon
ACCESSORIES
- 1/2 Onion
- 3 Green Onions
- 8 slices Ginger
- Some Wild Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Chicken Sauce
- 1 Green Pepper and 1 Red Pepper
- A small amount of Cilantro
- 5 cloves Minced Garlic
- Some White Sesame Seeds
SEASONINGS
- 2 tablespoons Cooking Wine
- 6 tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
- 300 milliliters Sprite
- 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
- A small handful of Sichuan Peppercorns
- 3 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
- 1 tablespoon White Sugar
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Trim the nails off the purchased 600 grams of chicken feet, then cut them open and wash them thoroughly.
Tips:
Make sure to wash the chicken feet thoroughly to remove any dirt or residue.
STEP 2
In a pot, add water, chicken feet, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, and cooking wine.
STEP 3
Once boiling, skim off any foam, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for approximately 6 minutes.
Tips:
This step is essential for removing any fishy smell from the chicken feet.
STEP 4
After removing the chicken feet, rinse them thoroughly, then soak them in cold water for about 20 minutes. This helps to give the chicken feet a chewy texture.
STEP 5
While soaking the chicken feet, prepare the onion, green and red peppers, and minced garlic. Cut them into pieces and set them aside for later use.
STEP 6
Prepare a bowl and add one lemon along with the cut green and red peppers, onion, and minced garlic.
STEP 7
Add light soy sauce.
STEP 8
Add rice vinegar.
STEP 9
Add oyster sauce.
STEP 10
Pour in Sprite (or purified water).
STEP 11
Add wild pepper (add more if you prefer it spicier), white sugar, and chicken sauce. Stir well and set aside.
STEP 12
Pour the soaked chicken feet into the sauce mixture.
STEP 13
After stirring well, refrigerate overnight (or for about 4 hours if in a hurry), stirring occasionally during the process.
STEP 14
Before serving, add cilantro, green onions, white sesame seeds, and sesame oil to the soaked chicken feet. Stir well, and it's ready to eat!
STEP 15
After plating, it looks very appetizing, doesn't it? Enjoy your meal!
Recipe analyzer
- Recipes: Lemon Chicken Feet
- Main Ingredients:11
- Servings per recipe:1
- Servings size:914 g
-
Energy (calories):758 kcal
-
Protein:125.2 g
-
Fat:16.7 g
Why gray?
-
Carbohydrates:22 g
-
Protein: 70%530 kcal
-
Fat: 20%150 kcal
-
Carbohydrates: 10%79 kcal
The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.
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