WALKIE TALKIES-RUNAWAYS
Chicken Feet: A Traditional South African Township Delicacy
Friday, May 24, 2013 by Nicola Pierce-Kirkland 1 comment
Many Westerners would probably cringe at the thought of eating the feet and head of a chicken. In South Africa they’re a common township snack food popularly known as “walkie talkies”. The “walkies” or chicken feet, also known as “runaways”, are eaten in all nine provinces in South Africa. In Cape Town, in the Xhosa language they’re also called “amanqina enkukhu”.
Relatively easy to prepare and best eaten by hand
To prepare for cooking the feet are submerged in boiling water to remove the outer layer of skin. Next they’re covered in seasoning, often curry powder, turmeric, salt and black pepper. Then they’re cooked. Most recipes involve stewing, grilling, frying or “braaing” (barbecuing).
Walkies are high in protein and low in kilojoules. They consist mainly of skin and tendons so their crunchy texture and flavour is different from the rest of the chicken. They can also be enjoyed as a meal with “pap” (a kind of firm Maize mash) and are best eaten by hand.
