Well, today I thought that I would indulge in some authentic Khmer cuisine. In the past I have “eaten the bugs”, which included fried grasshoppers and beetles.. Today, I will have some soup with familiar ingredients like noodles, onions, and mushrooms. However, this particular soup included chicken feet and congealed chicken blood cut into square shaped cubes… So, how was it?
Chicken Feet and Congealed Blood Cube Soup in Cambodia
Well, when you dive in to a new culture, it’s imperative that you really immerse yourself into it. So, sampling some of the authentic Khmer cuisine seems like a must right? Well, I was a little skeptical on this endeavor but it only cost $2.50 so it didn’t seem like too much of an investment, although I wasn’t too thrilled about the thought of chicken feet and blood cubes…
So, here it is…..
Well, as you can see the chicken blood was congealed into cubes and to be honest it made my stomach turn at the thought of eating it.. Well, eat it I did, and you know what? It wasn’t THAT bad! Now, I won’t go as far to say that congealed chicken blood cubes will be a regular part of my diet but it didn’t taste as bad as what I had envisioned in my head. I think the worst part was the texture. It was very soft and you could “smush” it, simply using your tongue. Yummy, right?
Curiosity got the best of me, because I wondered how they congeal the blood the way they do so I did a little bit of research.
The process of congealing chicken blood into cubes is fascinating. Here’s how it’s typically done:
- Collect the Chicken Blood:
- First, fresh chicken blood is collected. This can be from freshly slaughtered chickens or purchased from a butcher.
- Coagulation:
- The collected blood is allowed to sit in a clean container for around 10 minutes. During this time, natural coagulation occurs, thickening the blood.
- Cutting into Cubes:
- Once the blood has thickened, it is cut into smaller pieces. These pieces are often referred to as “blood cubes.”
- The cubes are usually uniform in size, making them easier to handle and incorporate into dishes.
- Heating with Salt:
- The blood cubes are then heated in a pot with water over medium heat.
- Salt is added during the heating process. The salt helps solidify the blood cubes further.
- Cooling and Skewering:
- After the blood cubes have reached the desired consistency, they are allowed to cool.
- Once cooled, they can be cut into smaller, bite-sized cubes and skewered for grilling or other culinary uses.
So, there you have it. How soon will you be making some congealed chicken blood cubes in your home?
The Chicken Foot in my Soup
I admit that this just mentally messed me up. I’m a visual person and I just didn’t like the site of this at all. I can’t eat fish with their heads still attached. I prefer for the fish to not be looking at me while I eat it. The chicken foot in my soup may have affected me in an even worse way.
Well, I said I was going to do it, so I did. Well, chicken skin is chicken skin.. Whether you are eating a drumstick or…. yes feet! Well, I could never get past the mental imaging of it all but I took a few nibbles. Well, I did not like it. Obviously there is little to no meat under the skin so I was literally just eating the skin off the foot. Was I supposed to eat the entire foot? Was the chicken foot made of bones or are they cartilage, tendons, etc… I should have did some research before nibbling on chicken feet.
My research came up with this :
- Composition of Chicken Feet:
- Chicken feet consist mostly of connective tissue, which includes:
- Skin: The outer layer.
- Cartilage: Tough, flexible tissue.
- Tendons: Strong, fibrous tissue connecting muscles to bones.
- Bones: The bony structure of the feet.
- Chicken feet consist mostly of connective tissue, which includes:
- Nutritional Value:
- Despite their unusual appearance, chicken feet are nutritious:
- A serving of 2 chicken feet (70 grams) provides:
- Calories: 150
- Protein: 14 grams
- Fat: 10 grams
- Calcium: 5% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Phosphorus: 5% of the DV
- Vitamin A: 2% of the DV
- Folate (vitamin B9): 15% of the DV
- Approximately 70% of their protein content is collagen, a structural protein that contributes to skin, tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments.
- A serving of 2 chicken feet (70 grams) provides:
- Despite their unusual appearance, chicken feet are nutritious:
- Health Benefits:
- Collagen Content:
- Chicken feet are rich in gelatinous collagen.
- Collagen intake may:
- Improve skin hydration, roughness, elasticity, and density.
- Reduce cellulite and skin waviness.
- Aid wound healing and combat skin aging.
- Increase skin hydration and reduce wrinkles caused by UVB irradiation.
- Work by boosting hyaluronic acid levels, which helps prevent skin aging.
- Chicken feet are also beneficial for joint health, as they provide essential nutrients for minimizing arthritis and joint pain.
- Collagen Content:
- Preparation:
- When cooking chicken feet, the goal is to soften the cartilage to make it tender enough to eat.
- The small bones inside the foot are joined by tough cartilage.
- Some recipes involve deep-frying or serving chicken feet with sauces, which can increase their carb, fat, and calorie content.
In summary, chicken feet are more than just skin; they’re a collagen-packed treat that offers unique flavors and potential health benefits. Whether you enjoy them in soups, stews, or as street food, they’re a fascinating addition to culinary traditions! So, maybe I should have devoured the whole chicken foot for the health benefits? Nah, I think there are other ways to get collagen… I will stick with those!
I am thankful for the experience, but I will probably pass on my next chance to order chicken feet and congealed blood!
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Tell me what you think by adding a comment below, and if you have tried this before? Do you have any tips that would have made my experience more enjoyable?