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!

8 Reviews
11 Comments
POSTED:31/05/2024
Level:Easy
Yield:3-4 servings
Total:5 hr 0 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:40 min

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.

Trim and wash purchased chicken feet before cooking; wash them thoroughly to remove dirt.

STEP 2

In a pot, add water, chicken feet, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, and cooking wine.

Recipe: boil chicken feet with spices in water and 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.

Skim off foam when boiling chicken feet to remove fishy smell.

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.

Soak chicken feet in cold water for 20 minutes for 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.

Prepare onions, peppers, garlic while soaking chicken feet. Cut into pieces for later use.

STEP 6

Prepare a bowl and add one lemon along with the cut green and red peppers, onion, and minced garlic.

Mix lemon, green & red peppers, onion, and garlic in a bowl.

STEP 7

Add light soy sauce.

Add light soy sauce.

STEP 8

Add rice vinegar.

Add rice vinegar for flavor and acidity.

STEP 9

Add oyster sauce.

Suggestion to add oyster sauce to a dish.

STEP 10

Pour in Sprite (or purified water).

Add Sprite or purified water as directed.

STEP 11

Add wild pepper (add more if you prefer it spicier), white sugar, and chicken sauce. Stir well and set aside.

Recipe step: Add wild pepper, sugar, and chicken sauce, stir and set aside.

STEP 12

Pour the soaked chicken feet into the sauce mixture.

Incorporate soaked chicken feet into sauce blend.

STEP 13

After stirring well, refrigerate overnight (or for about 4 hours if in a hurry), stirring occasionally during the process.

Refrigerate well-mixed ingredients; stir occasionally, wait overnight or 4 hours.

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!

To prepare a delicious dish of chicken feet, add cilantro, green onions, sesame seeds, and sesame oil.

STEP 15

After plating, it looks very appetizing, doesn't it? Enjoy your meal!

Content: A message about the appetizing appearance of a plated dish.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Lemon Chicken Feet
  • Main Ingredients:11
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:914 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 799 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):758 kcal
    38%
  • Protein:125.2 g
    235%
  • Fat:16.7 g Why gray?
    42%
  • Carbohydrates:22 g
    13%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 70%
    530 kcal
  • Fat: 20%
    150 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 10%
    79 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
10:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

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.

8 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
FlavorFestiveNovember 17, 2024

This recipe is so authentic; the chicken feet are bursting with flavor!
SpiceSizzleSphereNovember 04, 2024

Can I use white wine instead of cooking wine?
reply:
November 07, 2024
Yes, you can use white wine as a substitute, but it will slightly alter the flavor.
TasteTriumphStudioOctober 24, 2024

The final chicken feet not only look enticing but also offer a perfect combination of seasoning and lemon in every bite!
YumYumJourneyHubOctober 13, 2024

The lemony tang combined with the spices makes the chicken feet incredibly appetizing!
SizzleSavvyStudioOctober 01, 2024

These chicken feet are absolutely delicious, with the perfect texture!
SavorySnackShowcaseSeptember 16, 2024

I don’t have Sichuan peppercorns. Can I use other peppercorns instead?
reply:
September 19, 2024
If you don’t have Sichuan peppercorns, you can substitute them with black or white peppercorns, though the flavor will be slightly different.
SavorySnackSizzleSeptember 02, 2024

The chicken feet don't seem to be cleaned well. How can I clean them thoroughly?
reply:
September 04, 2024
Make sure to soak the chicken feet in water with salt, then scrub them with a brush to remove any residue and dirt.
CharlesJuly 31, 2024

Does it taste bad without vinegar?
DavidJuly 18, 2024

Lemon Chicken Feet, with its unique sweet and sour flavor and chewy texture, is a highlight of the creative dish.
AnnaMay 31, 2024

I love this recipe.
BobMay 31, 2024

This lemon chicken claw is hot and sour, very appetizing and one of the popular summer snacks. It is a great choice for summer.
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