Enjoy Asian’s favorite street food at home! This Adobong Paa nang Manok or Chicken Feet Adobo packs amazing texture and complex flavor. It is a delicious delicacy to enjoy on its own as an appetizer or a main dish with piping-hot steamed rice.
Like tongue, blood, and offal, chicken paws are, understandably, an acquired taste. Gnawing on feet is definitely difficult to get past. Nails, calluses, walking on muddy fields…Ewww, right?
But believe me, once you get over the cringe factor, you’ll agree that they’re probably the best part of the chicken. Prepared and cooked right, chicken feet are the most delectable morsel that walked (pun intended) the earth!
They’re not especially meaty, but they bring complex flavor and are rich in good-for-you gelatin!
Preparing chicken feet
The chicken paws sold in the U.S. are usually cleaned off their hard, outer skin, so there’s no peeling needed. However, make sure to follow the preparation below to improve the dining experience!
- Using a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, trim the nails and discard.
- Check the soft pads of the feet and cut off any dark, callused areas with a knife.
- Scrub well with rock salt and rinse well.
- The paws can be prepared ahead of time and will keep well in the freezer for up to 6 months. Store in an airtight container or resealable bag.
Cooking steps
- Boil the chicken feet first for about 5 minutes and then drain well to remove any excess protein and impurities.
- Simmer in vinegar, soy sauce, and aromatics until tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Braise in the reserved liquid until sauce is thick and reduced.
- Add chili garlic sauce for a hint of spice.
How to serve
- Enjoy this adobong paa nang manok as an appetizer with your favorite party drinks or as a main dish with steamed rice.
Storing leftovers
- Allow leftovers to cool completely and transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate for up to 3 days; the sauce will congeal when chilled due to the gelatin content from the bones.
- Reheat in a saucepot over medium-low heat or in the microwave at 2 to 3-minute intervals until completely warmed through.
Related Recipes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken feet
- rock salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 head peeled and minced
- 1 large onion, peeled and sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns, cracked
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- Trim chicken feet of nails and any dark, callused areas. Scrub well with salt, rinse in cold water, and drain well.
- In a large pot, bring about 2 liters of water to a boil. Add chicken feet and cook for about 5 minutes. Drain well, discarding liquid.
- In a pot, combine chicken feet, 2 cups, water, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, onions, peppercorns, and bay leaves,
- Bring to a boil, uncovered and without stirring, for about 3 to 5 minutes. Lower heat, cover, and continue to cook until skin of feet begins to break and liquid is reduced.
- Remove from heat and drain, reserving liquid.
- In a wide pan over medium heat, heat oil. Add the chicken feet including aromatics and cook, stirring regularly, for about 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned.
- Add reserved liquid and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer until very tender (skin will begin to peel off from bones) and sauce is reduced.
- Add chili garlic sauce and season with salt to taste. Serve hot.
Notes
- Parboil the chicken feet first to remove any excess protein and impurities.
- Add chili garlic sauce for a hint of spice. You can substitute minced Thai chili peppers.
- The sauce will congeal when cold due to the gelatin content from the bones.
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Ellein says
Thank you for this
Bee says
I tried it with 1 cup (240ml) vinegar and sobrang asim nya. Ano kayang naging problema? Mali ba ung measuring cup na ginamit ko?
Lalaine Manalo says
240 ml is correct. Did you let it boil, uncovered and without stirring, for a few minutes? This helps cook off the strong acid taste. Also, may ask what vinegar you used? Distilled white vinegar has a stronger taste than our Datu Puti
Holly says
I tried this recipe today! And wow the flavours are amazing! I think to cook this in a pressure cooker would do the trick to really soften the chicken feet. Super easy recipe so really what an enjoyable meal
Lalaine Manalo says
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the tip about using the pressure cooker. Will try it next time 🙂
Krishna Parsanlall says
Hello Lalaine,
I just wanted to point out a slight omission in your ingredients list in the recipe. [1 head peeled and minced]. I know you meant to say “garlic”. Anyway for me I know exactly what was meant. My lady is from the Philippines and the majority of my friends are Filipinos so I am quite familiar with the dishes from your country. I am originally from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Just a suggestion if you want to check out Caribbean style dishes go to caribbeanpot.com and check there. Keep up the good work.
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. I really appreciate it.
Babes says
That was plenty of reserved liquid. Lahat ba gagamitin ?
cathy says
i love to cook , I will try this hoping will turn out delicious
Lalaine says
I hope it works for you, too. Thanks for the visit.
cristian says
ang sarap