ORIENTAL FEET RECIPES

Steps:

• Rinse the pig's feet under cold running water. Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add the pieces and simmer for about five minutes. Unless your pot is very large, you'll probably have to do this in batches. Drain the feet and rinse them well. Bring a fresh pot of water to the boil and repeat this process (this rids the feet of impurities).
• Wash the pot. Rinse the ginger (no need to peel it) and cut it into large chunks. Put the pieces on a cutting board and lightly crush them with the side of a cleaver. Put the ginger into the pot, then add the garlic. Break the dried chillies in half, shake out and discard the seeds, then put the chillies into the pot. Add the soy sauce, rice wine, cinnamon sticks, star anise, sugar, chun pei and 1 tsp of salt into the pot, along with 600ml (2¼ cups) of water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar is dissolved.
• Put all the pieces of pig's feet into the pot and bring to the boil. Cover with the lid, turn down the heat and cook at a low simmer, occasionally moving around the pieces of pig's feet so they are submerged in the liquid. After about an hour, add the peanuts.
• Simmer the ingredients for about three hours in total, or until the pig's feet pieces are very tender. The sauce should reduce to a sticky, light syrupy consistency; if it's too thin, remove the lid when the meat is tender and continue to simmer. Taste the sauce and correct the seasonings, if necessary.
• Remove the pieces of pig's feet and put them in a large serving bowl. Add the fu pei to the pot, if using, and simmer it in the sauce until soft. Ladle the sauce and fu pei over the pig's feet. Cut the spring onions into 1cm pieces and scatter them and/or fresh coriander sprigs over the ingredients before serving.

Steps:

• Cut the claws off and any dirty part on the chicken feet. And then cut the main large bone off and divide the chicken palm into two parts. If you feel this part too difficult, you can skip it. But you will need more oil in the deep frying process.
• Bring enough water to a boiling in a large pot, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of sugar (to avoid breaking of the skin) and 1/2 teaspoon of rice vinegar (to avoid darkened color). Cook the chicken feet for about 2 minutes. Transfer out and drain completely.
• Add 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce and marinate for around 30 minutes.
• Fill one third of a wok or deep frier with oil and heat it over medium heat to 180 C. Add the chicken feet and fry them until golden and dry. If your chicken feet are not completely dried, the oil might sparkle. Remember to use a long chop stick to turn the chicken feet and cover the fryer with a lid. If you did not divide the chicken feet into two parts, then deep fry them in small batches and add
• slightly more oil. Just make sure that they are well deep-fried.
• Transfer the feet to a large bowl with iced water. Soak the chicken feet for 3 to 4 hours to achieve the tiger skin effect.
• To steam: transfer the chicken feet to a steamer. Prepare all the ingredients for the steaming sauce. Steam at first the chicken feet for 15 minutes and then evenly pour on them the steaming sauce. Continue to steam for another 30 to 40 minutes.
• To braise: mix all the ingredients used for steaming with another 1 cup of water. In a deep pan simmer the chicken feet with the sauce for 15 minutes and then turn up the fire to thicken the sauce.
• Serve hot or reheat it for later serving.