As a world-renowned chef who has travelled across the globe learning recipes, I’m thrilled to share my knowledge on how to make the ultimate comfort food Chicken Feet Soup. This soup originated in Chinese cuisine and has become popular in other parts of Asia and the world for its unique taste and texture.
While chicken feet soup may seem like an easy recipe–They impart a rich collagen that results in a lip-smacking and nourishing broth. If you’re looking for an adventurous recipe to impress your family and friends, you’re in the right place!
Chicken Feet Soup
Equipment
- Large pot with lid
- Slotted spoon
- Fine mesh strainer
- Ladle
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Paper towels
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken feet, cleaned thoroughly
- 1-inch ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
- 2 stalks celery, cut into thirds
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 cups water
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Chopped scallions, cilantro, and chilli oil, for garnish
Video
Notes
Procedure For Making Chicken Feet Soup
Prepare the classic Chicken Feet Soup by following our detailed instructions below:
- Rinse the chicken feet thoroughly under cold running water, use a paring knife to scrape any scaly skin, and cut off the nails with kitchen shears.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the chicken feet & blanch for 2-3 minutes to remove impurities & foul odours under cold water, and then transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Add sliced ginger, smashed garlic cloves, quartered onion, and celery In the same pot. Fill with 8 cups of water until ingredients are fully submerged. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse into the broth. Skim off and discard any scum that rises to the surface.
- Add the blanched chicken feet with any juices to the pot, season generously with salt & pepper, and increase heat to high and return to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low & partially cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar. Simmer for 2 hours, skimming the surface occasionally, until chicken feet are very tender
- Transfer the chicken feet to a bowl and reserve the broth in the pot using a slotted spoon. Once chicken feet are cool enough to handle, remove and discard bones. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a clean pot, which results in a clear, gelatinous broth.
- Add the cooked chicken meat back into the broth with the rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- To serve, ladle the piping hot soup into bowls garnish with chopped scallions, cilantro, and a drizzle of chilli oil.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my expert tips to take this Chicken Feet Soup recipe to the next level:
- When selecting chicken feet, choose fresh ones with skin intact. The skin and cartilage is what gives the broth its signature texture.
- Blanching the chicken feet before simmering helps reduce funky flavours, resulting in a cleaner-tasting broth.
- Always skim off the scum that rises to the top as the soup simmers. It removes impurities that can make the broth cloudy.
- Don’t throw away the boiled chicken bones. Save them as a secondary broth or stock to impart even more flavour.
- Let the broth cool completely before straining to allow the collagen to dissolve for a rich, silky mouthfeel.
- Cut the chicken into pieces after removing bones rather than before to allow maximum gelatin extraction.
- Customize the soup to your taste by adjusting the acidity with rice vinegar and flavour with additional soy sauce or sesame oil.
- Garnish each bowl with fresh chopped scallions, cilantro, and chilli oil for an extra flavour and textural boost.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage. The flavours intensify over time.
Conclusion
For any home cook looking to add more exotic recipes to their repertoire–Chicken Feet Soup is a must-try. The rewarding and complex flavours of this Chicken Feet Soup make it a standout dish. With its rich and silky texture courtesy of collagen-rich chicken feet, this soup is the ultimate comfort food.
I hope you’ll try this recipe and experience chicken feet in a new light. Let me know how it goes when you make this mouth-watering dish! We think you’ll agree that this chicken feet soup recipe is the best thing we’ve ever put in our huge Soup category on QuickRecipees.com.
