Offal is the great unknown of our gastronomy. A variety of products that spark love and hate in equal parts. Have you never tried any kind of these delicacies? In this article we approach the chicken feet, or chicken, one of the lesser known foods.
A controversial photo
A few months ago, the chef David Muñoz caused outrage in social networks for one of his posts. In the age of social networks, you have to know what you are uploading and assess the pros and cons of the published content. In it, the DiverXo chef shared a photo of some chicken feet "locked" in a kind of cage, a most curious plate due to its aesthetics.
The photograph was taken at the Alchemist restaurant, an establishment owned by Danish chef Ramus Munsk. The place, located in Denmark, has two Michelin stars. Many of the followers they didn't understand the concept off the plate, calling Munsk and Muñoz cruel or wondering where the culinary talent was.
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The benefits of eating chicken feet
The chicken feet, and all the offal in general, despite what many detractors say, contain multiple benefits for our body. As the main nutrient we find collagen, an element that helps your skin and its cells, promoting their flexibility and reducing wrinkles. In turn, it helps repair skin lesions, accelerating wound healing.
Your bones, nails and ligaments will be rewarded thanks to minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and sulfur, also very present in all offal. When cooking this product you can take advantage of the broth that they release, a liquid that helps protect our digestive system. And to finish with its benefits, we can highlight the presence of the amino acid known as cysteine, which helps prevent diseases cardiovascular and respiratory.
The way to eat this delicacy
We have already seen that the chicken feet, or any bird, are very good for health, yes, eating them in moderation. We can't always be feeding ourselves like this. Our Mediterranean diet is varied and provides us with everything we need. Even so, despite the fact that they can cause some rejection, well cooked, they are a very appetizing dish. There are not many ways to make them, but they can be accompanied with multiple garnishes.
The most traditional way of cooking them in Spain is cooking them. Its preparation is simple, but you have to do it over low heat, little by little. First of all you have to clean them well. SAbove all, removing the plumage that may still be encrusted. For this they are usually singed with a blowtorch or a lighter. Later they are stewed in a casserole, whose base is a sauce, adding a chicken broth and water. It remains to wait until they are ready.
Offal in Spain
The offal, as we have already pointed out, has fans and detractors in equal parts. Despite its false bad appearance, Spain has been a country that has appreciated this type of food for centuries. Thanks to chef Javier Estévez, owner of La Tasquería, this type of gastronomy is once again in the foreground, breaking prejudices and reconciling to an entire country with its traditional dishes.
And there is no corner of the country that does not have its traditional dish made with animal waste. There is nothing more typical in Madrid than the ins and outs and chickens, two parts of the digestive system of the lamb. Or the tripe, the guts of animals, which in every corner of Spain have their tricks to make them. To end this tour highlight the black pudding from Burgos, a coagulated blood pudding, to which onion, rice and spices are added, wrapped in pork casing.
As we have seen, the chicken feet and the rest of the offal are appreciated and rejected in equal parts. But it is up to gastronomy professionals to do everything possible to bring these creations closer to the public, especially to children, who are perhaps the most reluctant to consume these foods. And now that you know its multiple benefits, are you going to try this type of food more?
