Hong Kong Braised Chicken Feet with Shiitake Mushrooms
A classic dim sum dish featuring tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken feet braised in a rich, savory sauce with shiitake mushrooms. This recipe focuses on achieving a deep flavor and gelatinous texture.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Chicken feet(nails trimmed, pre-fried if possible)
- 55 g Dried shiitake mushrooms(soaked in warm water until softened, stems removed)
- 75 g Ginger(sliced thinly)
- 4 cloves Garlic(peeled)
- 4 pieces Dried chili(washed)
- 55 g Spring onion stems(cut into 2-inch lengths)
- 1.3 liters Water
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine(optional)
- 0.5 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1.5 tbsp Thick soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp Sugar(optional)
- 0.25 tsp Pepper
- 2 tbsp Onion oil
- 2 tbsp Chopped spring onions(for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
If using pre-fried chicken feet, rinse them briefly. If using raw chicken feet, clean them thoroughly, trim nails, and blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse.
💡 Tip: Pre-frying chicken feet (deep-frying until lightly browned) before braising results in a more tender and gelatinous texture. - 2
Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water until softened. Remove stems and slice the caps if large.
- 3
In a pot or Dutch oven, heat the onion oil over medium heat. Add sliced ginger, garlic, and dried chilies. Stir-fry until fragrant.
- 4
Add the spring onion stems and stir-fry for another 2 minutes until slightly softened.
- 5
Add the shiitake mushrooms and stir to combine.
💡 Tip: Ensure the mushrooms are evenly distributed. - 6
Pour in the water, Shaoxing wine (if using), light soy sauce, thick soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar (if using), and pepper. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- 7
Add the chicken feet to the pot. Ensure they are submerged in the liquid. Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1.5 hours, or until the chicken feet are very tender and the skin is gelatinous.
💡 Tip: Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. - 8
Remove the chicken feet and mushrooms from the pot. If the sauce is too thin, you can reduce it over medium-high heat until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve the chicken feet and mushrooms with the sauce, garnished with chopped spring onions.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The key to tender chicken feet is a long, slow braising time.
- ✓If you can't find pre-fried chicken feet, deep-frying them at home before braising will yield superior results.
- ✓Adjust the amount of sugar to your preference.
🔄 Variations
- Add a tablespoon of tapioca flour mixed with a little water to thicken the sauce.
- Include other aromatics like star anise or cinnamon sticks during braising.