This is a nourishing dish made by slow-cooking chicken feet until tender, creating a gelatin-rich snack full of collagen, amino acids, and essential minerals. This recipe supports joint health, skin elasticity, and gut health by providing a natural source of collagen, which promotes healing and reduces inflammation.
What is Easy Gelatin-Rich Braised Chicken Feet
I’m a huge fan of dim sum-style chicken feet – I love the texture and flavor, and they’re a fantastic gelatin-rich food that supports gut, skin, and joint health. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to find gluten-free chicken feet at restaurants, as they’re often braised in gluten-containing sauces and sometimes fried, which doesn’t leave me feeling great. That’s why I love making them at home – inspired by the delicious flavors of Chinese braised chicken feet, but with simple ingredients, gluten-free, free from seed oils, and without any frying. This is likely not a traditional way to make chicken feet, but I prefer to make them with simple ingredients I have on hand at home and without needing to deep fry. All you need to do is prepare the chicken feet, blanch them, rinse them, and let them braise until tender.
What makes chicken feet so great is that they are packed with gelatin, a nutrient often missing from modern diets. Traditionally, whole-animal consumption, including bones, skin, and connective tissues, provided plenty of collagen and gelatin, but today’s focus on muscle meats and processed foods has reduced our intake of these vital components. This shift has significant effects on our health, leading to a decrease in collagen, which is essential for joint health, skin elasticity, and connective tissue strength.
This dish is a natural way to boost collagen intake, supporting not only joint and skin health but also gut health by strengthening the intestinal lining and aiding digestion. Rich in amino acids, calcium, and magnesium, chicken feet promote overall well-being. Plus, the gelatin extracted during cooking can improve skin hydration and elasticity, making this a great addition to any diet focused on anti-aging or joint support.
These braised chicken feet are also a great example of nose-to-tail eating, which emphasizes using the whole animal to reduce waste, save money, and incorporate more nutrients into your diet while honoring the animal. So many different cuisines utilize chicken feet in their dishes, from East and Southeast Asia to Africa to the Caribbean, so if you’re looking for more ways to use chicken feet just google some traditional recipes!
Why You’ll Love Easy Gelatin-Rich Braised Chicken Feet
- Gelatin rich snack! A delicious way to add skin & gut healing gelatin to your diet.
- Simple ingredients. The same delicious flavors of a dim sum staple made with easy-to-find ingredients and simple techniques.
- Nose-to-tail eating. A great way to use the whole animal and reduce food waste.
The Ingredients for Easy Gelatin-Rich Braised Chicken Feet
- Chicken feet. Find them at your local butcher, farmers market or Asian grocery store.
- Filtered water and sea salt.
- Organic tamari. The delicious deep, rich flavor and color of soy sauce without gluten!
- Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, garlic, fresh ginger, raw honey. Aromatics to braise the chicken feet.
- Chopped scallions. A bright, fresh green garnish to serve the dish.
How to Make Easy Gelatin-Rich Braised Chicken Feet
- Step One. Prepare the chicken feet by clipping and discarding the nails.
- Step Two. Add the prepared chicken feet to a pot with cold water and sea salt and bring it to a boil to blanch the chicken feet and remove any impurities.
- Step Three. Drain the blanched chicken feet and rinse them well with cold water.
- Step Four. Add the rinsed chicken feet back to a clean pot and add the organic tamari, water and aromatics to braise the chicken feet until they are tender.
- Step Five. Add chopped scallions and serve!
Storing Easy Gelatin Rich-Braised Chicken Feet
Store the braised chicken feet in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can also freeze the prepared chicken feet for up to 3 months.
How to Serve Easy Gelatin-Rich Braised Chicken Feet
Serve the braised chicken feet with steamed rice or enjoy them on their own as a savory snack. Enjoy them hot or chilled from the fridge. After being stored in the fridge the sauce will firm up because of the gelatin, so you can heat it on the stove or in the microwave quickly to make the sauce thin again.
Easy Gelatin-Rich Braised Chicken Feet (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken feet
- Filtered water
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 1 cup organic tamari
- 1-2 tsp sichuan peppercorns optional
- 2-3 star anise pods
- 7 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
- 3- inch piece fresh ginger roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp local raw honey
- Chopped scallions for serving
Instructions
Prepare the chicken feet
- Use a sharp knife of kitchen shears to trim the nail off of the chicken feet. Add the trimmed feet to a large pot and cover with cold filtered water and the sea salt. Bring to a boil and let it cook for 4-5 minutes. Drain the water and rinse the chicken feet well with cold water.
Braise the Chicken Feet
- Clean the pot and return the rinsed chicken feet to the pot. Add the organic tamari, 4 cups filtered water, sichuan peppercorns, star anise, garlic, ginger, and honey,
- Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until the chicken feet are tender and the flavors have developed. Stir occasionally ensuring all of the chicken feet are submerged.
Finish and Serve
- Serve hot or allow to chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours. Garnish with chopped scallions for a burst of freshness.
- Serve the braised chicken feet with steamed rice or enjoy them on their own as a savory snack.
Notes
- Store the braised chicken feet in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can also freeze the prepared chicken feet for up to 3 months.
- After being stored in the fridge the sauce will firm up because of the gelatin, so you can heat it on the stove or in the microwave quickly to make the sauce liquid again.