Cold Salad with Chicken Gizzards is a delicious traditional Sichuan dish that excels in color, aroma, and taste. Carefully prepared, the chicken gizzards are sliced into thin strips or threads, showcasing their pristine white appearance and delightful elasticity. The texture is crisp and refreshing, with a unique chewiness that allows you to fully appreciate the tender and delicate nature of the gizzards, providing a pleasurable dining experience.Typically, the cold salad is served alongside fresh vegetables, adding layers and visual appeal to the dish. The sauce often presents a spicy and numbing flavor, giving the dish a mildly spicy and slightly salty taste. This distinctive flavor profile is what makes Cold Salad with Chicken Gizzards so enticing.Beyond its deliciousness, this dish is also highly nutritious. Chicken gizzards are a high-protein food, providing essential nutrients for muscle growth and tissue repair. Additionally, the preparation of cold salad usually involves low-fat cooking methods, making it an ideal choice for weight control and maintaining overall health.In summary, whether it’s the delectable taste or the nutritional value, Cold Salad with Chicken Gizzards is an irresistible delicacy that captivates both the palate and the body.
Ingredients for Chicken gizzard：
| Chicken gizzard | 250g |
| Cucumber | 150g |
| Garlic | 10g |
| Coriander | 5g |
| Sugar | 5g |
| Oyster sauce | 3g |
| Salt | 5g |
| White sesame seed | 10g |
| Edible oil | 15g |
| Baking soda | 5g |
| Small chili pepper | 10g |
| Dried chilli | 6g |
Steps:
1.First, take out the purchased chicken gizzards and slice them into thin pieces. This cutting method enhances the texture and dining experience of the cold salad with chicken gizzards. Next, prepare a bowl and place the sliced gizzards into it. After adding the gizzards, add a spoonful of baking soda to the bowl. Baking soda helps remove any unpleasant odor and tenderizes the meat, making the cold salad with chicken gizzards more flavorful and tender. Then, add a little water to the bowl, just enough to cover the gizzards. Do not add too much water. Let the gizzards soak in the water for 3 to 5 minutes. This step helps remove impurities from the gizzards and makes them cleaner and more tender.
2.Prepare a pot and add an adequate amount of water. Adjust the heat to medium-high and bring the water to a full boil. Boiling water helps clean the chicken gizzards, removing any impurities and gamey odor.Next, rinse the marinated chicken gizzard slices with clean water.Ensure the gizzards are rinsed well to remove any residual baking soda or other substances. After draining off excess water, place the gizzards into the boiling water. Be mindful of the timing, usually blanching the gizzards in the pot for about 5 to 10 seconds. This step further helps eliminate the gamey odor and enhances the tenderness of the gizzards. Then, quickly retrieve the blanched gizzards using a slotted spoon and immerse them in cold water. The addition of cold water aids in rapidly cooling down the gizzards and removing any residual heat, ensuring they become completely cooled. Finally, transfer the fully cooled gizzards into a bowl for further steps in the cold salad preparation. At this point, the gizzards have rid of any gamey flavor, and their texture has become more tender and succulent, providing a solid foundation for seasoning in the cold salad.
3.Take out the prepared cucumber and wash it thoroughly. Then, slice the cucumber into thin pieces, making sure to cut them slightly longer so that the strands are more slender. Next, rearrange the sliced cucumber on the cutting board, hold the knife with the tip facing down, and cut the cucumber into strips. You can choose to make the strips thin or thick, depending on personal taste and preference. Place the sliced cucumber in a bowl and gently press down with your hand to remove excess moisture. This will make the cucumber strands more crisp. Then, continue handling the cucumber strands by stacking them together and pressing them into a triangular shape. Use your fingers to gently press and keep the cucumber strands tightly arranged. This will enhance the visual appeal of the cold salad dish. Next, cut open the middle section of the cucumber strands to separate them into two sides. This treatment will give the cucumber strands more layers and dimension. Afterwards, place the prepared cucumber strands onto a plate and spread them out in a circular shape. You can design the presentation according to personal preference, creating an aesthetically pleasing combination of the cold salad with chicken gizzards and cucumber strands.
4.Lastly, cut the small chili peppers into rings, mince the garlic, and cut the dried chillies into segments. Add them to the bowl of blanched chicken gizzards. Next, sprinkle a little white sesame seeds to enhance the aroma and texture of the cold salad. White sesame seeds have a subtle fragrance that can make the cold salad of chicken gizzards more delicious. Then, heat a suitable amount of cooking oil in another pan. Once the oil reaches the right temperature, pour it over the bowl of chicken gizzards. This will bring out various flavors, but be careful not to pour it directly onto the gizzards to avoid affecting their texture. Afterward, sprinkle a spoonful of salt and a spoonful of sugar into the bowl to balance the taste and enhance the umami flavor. Then, pour in an appropriate amount of dark soy sauce and mix everything well in the bowl of chicken gizzards. Make sure the seasoning is evenly coated on the gizzards and other ingredients.
5.After mixing well, pour the cold salad of chicken gizzards into the prepared plate of cucumber strands. Use chopsticks to evenly arrange the cold salad on top of the cucumber strands. To enhance the presentation and flavor, you can garnish the plate with a few fresh cilantro leaves. The fragrant taste of cilantro adds a special touch to the cold salad of chicken gizzards. And there you have it, a refreshing and delicious cold salad of chicken gizzards. It combines the tenderness and aroma of the gizzards with the freshness and crispness of the cucumber strands, making it a delightful dish to enjoy with rice. When serving, you can mix the cucumber strands and the cold salad of chicken gizzards together to ensure that the seasonings are well incorporated. Each bite will delight your taste buds with the tender gizzards, crispy cucumber strands, and the flavors of various seasonings.
Tips:
1.When purchasing chicken gizzards, observe the appearance of the gizzards. Fresh chicken gizzards should have a bright color, smooth surface without spots, and no odor. Ensuring the freshness of the gizzards is essential as it contributes to better texture and flavor.
2.Place the chicken gizzards into boiling water and blanch them for a brief period, around 1-2 minutes, to prevent overcooking. This process helps break down the tendons in the gizzards, resulting in improved texture and taste.
Cold salad of chicken gizzards is a unique and flavorful dish. The chicken gizzards are meticulously cooked to achieve an enticing golden color, accompanied by vibrant dried chillies and fresh cilantro, making it visually appealing. Each piece of gizzard retains its natural elasticity, offering a tender and juicy texture, while the addition of dried chillies and cilantro adds a touch of unique spiciness and aroma. When tasted, the cold salad of chicken gizzards presents a rich and layered texture, combining deliciousness with a satisfying chewiness. The harmonious blend of the fragrant and spicy flavors with the succulent gizzards creates an unforgettable experience. Not only is this dish delicious and satisfying, but it is also rich in protein and various essential nutrients, providing ample energy and nourishment for the body.