Pickled chicken feet are called Pao Jiao Feng Zhua in Mandarin. It is a lovely snack for Chinese People, often served with beer or other drinks. The feet are first blanched and then quick-pickled in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns. The pickled chicken feet have a unique flavor that is pungent, sour, and salty.
Pickled chicken feet are so popular in Chinese culture that many cities have their own unique recipes. For example, the famous Cantonese style pickled chicken feet are different from the Sichuan style as they often use more sugar and less vinegar in the pickling liquid. And the Cantonese recipe is less or almost unspicy.
Chicken feet, a widely loved ingredient in China
Chicken feet also known as Feng ZhuaIn, referred to as paws of a phoenix, is a laudatory title of chicken feet. The phoenix is deemed an auspicious and holy creature in Chinese fairy tales. And in some places, it is said that eating chicken feet can bring good fortune to people. There is a long history of the Chinese people eating chicken feet, which can date back to the Warring States Period according to the documentation. In China, chicken feet are quite versatile and by different cooking methods, they can be made into lots of savory dishes, among which the most popular one is pickled chicken feet.
Pickled chicken feet
Pickled chicken feet originated in Chongqing and gradually gains popularity throughout the country. The local brand You You pickled chicken feet has become a Chongqing specialty. However, it is quite easy for you to make your own version of pickled chicken feet at home.
Pickled Pepper
The main ingredients of pickled chicken feet are chicken feet and pickled peppers chillis. By the integration of pickled chili pepper and other spices like Sichuan peppers and star anise, the pickled chicken feet are enriched in aromas. At your first bite of the picked chicken feet, you will be surprised by their strong flavor of spiciness. That’s because the pickled chili pepper is much spicier compared with other common types of peppers. But you will be conquered by its appetizing flavor and chewy taste.
In most cases, you don’t have pickled peppers. You can replace it with other pickled peppers or even fresh chili peppers. But remember to include some of the liquid.
Instructions
Wash the chicken feet cleanly, and chop them in half or in smaller pieces so the flavors can be absorbed quickly.
Put the chicken feet into cold water, add some ginger and spring onion which can help to remove the raw taste of chicken feet, and blanch for about 10 minutes. Do not blanch for too long, otherwise, the chicken feet will become quite soft and the skin can be spoiled.
Take the chicken feet out, and wash them in the running water for a few minutes so as to get rid of the grease on the surface of the chicken feet. Transfer the chicken feet into iced water after blanching. This will make the skin chewier.
Let’s prepare the liquid
Put the pickled chili pepper, the water of pickled chilies, ginger, garlic, salt, rock candy, Sichuan peppers, and star anise into a bowl. Stir all the ingredients to make all the flavors integrated. Taste the sauce you have made. It should be a little bit over-salty.
Prepare a jar and put the cooled chicken feet, chopped onion, and celery stick into the jar, and then add the above sauce into the jar. Make sure that all the chicken feet are immersed in the sauce. Seal the jar and keep it in cold storage for two days. Then your homemade pickled chicken feet are done!
Pickled Chicken Feet
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken feet
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 thumb ginger
- 2 tbsp. rock sugar
- 2 star anise , optional
- 600 ml water
- 3 tsp. salt
- celery , cut into section
- carrots , cut into small strips
- red onion , cut into pieces
Instructions
Cook the chicken feet
- Wash the chicken feet cleanly, remove the claws, and chop them in half or in smaller pieces so the flavors can be absorbed quickly.
- Put the chicken feet into cold water, add some ginger and spring onion which can help to remove the raw taste of chicken feet, and blanch for about 10 to 15 minutes. Do not cook too long, otherwise, the chicken feet will become quite soft and the skin can be spoiled.
- Take the chicken feet out, and wash them in the running water for a few minutes so as to get rid of the grease on the surface of the chicken feet. Then transfer the chicken feet into iced water. This will make the skin chewier and elastic.
Prepare the liquid
- Put the pickled chili pepper, the water of pickled chilies, ginger, garlic, salt, rock candy, Sichuan peppers, and star anise into a bowl. Stir all the ingredients to make all the flavors integrated. Taste the sauce you have made. It should be a little bit over-salty. Then let the liquid cool down aside.
Assemble
- Prepare a jar and put the cooled chicken feet, chopped onion, and celery stick into the jar, and then add the above sauce into the jar. Make sure that all the chicken feet are immersed in the sauce. Seal the jar and keep it in cold storage for two days. Then your homemade pickled chicken feet are done!
- You can also make this in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrapper.
Notes
- If you are not used to take the chicken feet as food, you can replace chicken feet with chicken wings. And the above recipe also works.
- If the water of pickled rod chillies is not sour enough, you can choose to add some rice vinegar.
- If you prefer a super spicy flavor, you can chop the pickled rod chillis into small pieces at first.
- Stir the pickled chicken feet in the jar once in a while so as to blend the flavors.
Nutrition
