Start by thoroughly cleaning the chicken feet. Remove any outer skin, nails, or excess fat. Rinse them well under cold running water. Place the cleaned chicken feet in a large pot.
Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, grated ginger, diced tomatoes, vegetable oil, paprika, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, salt, and pepper to the pot. Mix everything well to ensure the chicken feet are coated with the spices and vegetables
Pour enough water into the pot to cover the chicken feet. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer for about 1 hour, or until the chicken feet are tender and the flavors are well infused.
After simmering, remove the chicken feet from the pot and transfer them to a bowl. Reserve the cooking liquid for later use.If desired, you can grill the chicken feet to give them a charred and smoky flavor. Preheat your grill or oven to medium-high heat. Place the chicken feet on the grill or oven rack and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until nicely charred. Alternatively, you can skip this step if you prefer the maotwana without grilling.
Once grilled (optional), transfer the chicken feet to a serving platter. Drizzle some of the reserved cooking liquid over the maotwana for added moisture and flavor.
Serve the maotwana hot as an appetizer or snack. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the chicken feet for a tangy kick, if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley for added freshness and color.