Tandoori Chicken is one of my favourite Indian dishes. These Tandoori Style Chicken Drumsticks are a quick way to have amazing tandoori flavour, even if you don’t have a tandoor oven, which most of us here, I’m thinking, do not.

I’m no expert on Indian food or cooking. I do love to eat it, though, and love to try my hand with Indian food in the kitchen. This tandoori chicken recipe is a tandoori “style”, and not authentic in any way. It is, however, a quick and simple way to get those delicious tandoori flavours in a Canadian kitchen.

Traditional Tandoor

Traditional tandoor ovens are made of clay and heated with wood or charcoal. The ovens are extremely hot (up to 900°!) This high heat seals the juices of the chicken and keeps it moist while cooking it very quickly. Check out this article on Kitchn for more info on tandoor cooking.

I used a high heat for the oven to try to get some of this effect here. It worked out really well, because this tandoori chicken was amazing. Crisp and yet saucy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Just really tandoori (style) chicken perfection.

Some restaurants use food colouring to get the orange/red colouring of tandoori chicken. I found that the paprika does the trick without resorting to that.

I love the flavour, spice, and juiciness of tandoori chicken, and although you can use any chicken pieces with this recipe, drumsticks are quick to cook and economical. The marinade of yogurt, garlic, ginger and spices is traditional, and lends tons of flavour to this simple dish. And, if you want to be really authentic, check out this easy recipe for Garam Masala to make your own spice mix for even more amazing flavour.

How To Make Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks

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Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks – Canadian Kitchen Style

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

Easy oven baked Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks are tender and juicy with great tandoori flavours.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 343 kcal

Author: Colleen

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain Greek or Balkan style yogurt
• 4 teaspoons ginger minced
• 4 teaspoons garlic minced
• 4 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 tsp garam masala
• Juice of one lime
• Salt and fresh black pepper
• 2 pounds chicken drumsticks

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Whisk together the yogurt, ginger, garlic, paprika, coriander, garam masala, lime juice, salt and pepper in a large bowl. 
2. Add chicken and coat with the yogurt mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 450°.

4. Remove drumsticks from marinade and discard the marinade.

5.  Put chicken drumsticks on a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake in center of oven about 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink inside.

Recipe Notes

Drumsticks are equally good cold and are great for picnics.

Nutrition Facts

Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks – Canadian Kitchen Style

Amount Per Serving (2 pieces)

Calories 343 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Cholesterol 146mg49%

Sodium 206mg9%

Potassium 396mg11%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 38g76%

Vitamin A 1120IU22%

Vitamin C 1.2mg1%

Calcium 157mg16%

Iron 1.4mg8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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