Tricks for boiling chicken feet so that the texture is softer and doesn't smell fishy

foto ilustrasi: YouTube/Arfiani Yanuar

Boiling chicken feet can't be done carelessly, you know! If done wrong, the chicken feet can be tough and the fishy smell can still be felt.

Brilio.net - Chicken feet, this part of the chicken's body does have loyal fans. Its unique texture, chewy but soft, makes many people addicted. Feet can be processed into various delicious dishes, from seblak ceker, soto ceker, dimsum ceker, to rica-rica ceker. However, to get a truly soft and non-fishy texture of feet, a special trick is needed when boiling them. Boiling feet cannot be done carelessly, you know! If done wrong, the feet can be tough and the fishy smell can still be felt.

Well, in this article, you will find a trick to boil chicken feet so that the texture is softer and not fishy, namely by boiling it twice. The first boil serves to remove dirt and odors that stick, while the second boil with the addition of ginger and garlic will make the feet softer and more fragrant. Curious? Let's see the steps!

Boiling chicken feet properly is the key to producing a delicious chicken feet dish. Here are some reasons why boiling chicken feet needs to be considered, summarized by BrilioFood from various sources.

- Removes Dirt: Chicken feet are often considered the dirtiest part due to direct contact with soil and feed. Boiling the feet helps remove dirt and bacteria that may be attached.
- Reduce Fishy Smell: Chicken feet have a strong fishy smell. Boiling the feet with aromatic spices such as ginger and garlic can help reduce the fishy smell.
- Get a Soft Texture: Chicken feet have a high collagen content, so they require a long boiling time so that the texture becomes soft and easy to enjoy.

Here are some tricks for boiling chicken feet using the double-boil method, which will produce a softer texture and a less fishy taste:

Material:

- 1 kg chicken feet
- Enough water
- 1 piece of ginger, bruised
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon vinegar or lime juice (optional)
- Salt to taste

How to Boil:

1. Initial Cleaning: Wash the chicken feet thoroughly under running water. Make sure there is no dirt left between the feet's toes. Trim the feet's nails if necessary.
2. First Boil (Removing Dirt): Boil water until boiling in a large enough pot. Put the chicken feet into the boiling water. Boil for 5 minutes on high heat. The goal is to remove all dirt that is still attached.
3. Discard the Boiling Water and Clean the Pot: After 5 minutes, turn off the heat. Discard the dirty first boiling water. Wash the pot thoroughly to remove any remaining dirt.
4. Second Boil (Provides Aroma and Softness): Refill the pot with clean water. Put the boiled chicken feet into the pot. Add the crushed ginger and garlic. If desired, add vinegar or lime juice to help remove the fishy smell.
5. Boil Until Tender: Boil the chicken feet for 30-45 minutes or until the texture is really soft. Use medium heat so that the feet are evenly cooked. The 5-30-7 method can also be tried (boil for 5 minutes, let stand for 30 minutes, boil again for 7 minutes).
6. Add Salt: Once the feet are tender, add salt to taste. Stir well and cook for a while so that the salt is absorbed.
7. Chicken Feet Ready to Be Processed: Chicken feet that have been properly boiled are ready to be processed into various dishes according to taste.

- Choose Fresh Chicken Feet: Choose fresh chicken feet with bright skin color and no odor.
- Use the Right Pot: Use a pot that is large enough so that the chicken feet are completely submerged during boiling.
- Don't Open the Pot Lid Too Often: Opening the pot lid too often while boiling can slow down the cooking process and make the chicken feet less tender.
- 5-30-5 or 5-30-7 method: The trick of boiling the chicken feet for 5 minutes, letting them sit for 30 minutes, then boiling them again for 5 or 7 minutes is also effective in saving gas.

Chicken feet have a high collagen content, which makes them tend to be tough if not processed properly. In addition, the age of the chicken also affects the texture of the feet. Chicken feet from older chickens tend to be tougher and require a longer boiling time.

Although often considered a less nutritious food, chicken feet actually have several health benefits, including:

- Increases Immunity: Chicken feet contain collagen which can help increase immunity.
- Maintaining Bone Health: The collagen content in chicken feet is also useful for maintaining bone health and preventing osteoporosis.
- Reduces Joint Pain: Chicken feet can help reduce joint pain that is often experienced by osteoporosis sufferers.

After being boiled properly, chicken feet can be processed into various delicious dishes, including:

- Ceker Mercon: Chicken feet cooked with very strong spicy seasoning.
- Soto Ceker: Ceker added to chicken soto or beef soto.
- Dimsum Ceker: Ceker steamed with special dimsum spices.
- Rica-Rica Ceker: Ceker cooked with spicy and spice-rich rica-rica seasoning.

(brl/tin)