Jump to the Kid Friendly Hara Masala Drumsticks Recipe
One of Murphy's Laws should be if one of your children loves something the other will probably hate it (unless it's icecream). My little one takes such joy from chicken drumsticks. She loves to get in there and strip it down to bare bones. Her sister on the other hand thinks there is something terribly wrong with dark meat. More often than not I find myself taking the pieces off the bone for her to eat.
I don't mind really. For most of my life - I refuse to give an end date for this - my father did the same for me.
We grew up in Jeddah and Al Baik's broast was one of our favourite meals. To this day I don't think I have ever had better broast or toum (garlic sauce). However, when we were younger they didn't have a boneless chicken option and so we would get assorted chicken pieces and my father would take them apart for us, offering this kid the meat, that kid the crunchy skin. It is funny what memories stick to you, the little nothings that make you smile years later.
These kid friendly Hara Masala Drumsticks are simple, basic, but they work. They also make for a minimal muss and fuss meal which is much appreciated in Ramadan. Marinate the Hara Masala Drumsticks the night before and bake - or grill if you are so inclined - and serve it to the kiddos. I often drizzle the extra masala from the baking sheet over the rice and it becomes really yummy. If your kids are braver than mine then up the green chilli and garam masala to suit your tastes.
- 6 chicken drumsticks, skin removed
- ¾ cup yoghurt
- 1 inch ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½-3/4 tsp salt
- ½ green chilli (or more)
- ½ cup cilantro leaves
- ¼-1/2 tsp garam masala
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Grind all marinade ingredients but the yogurt together.
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Pour into a bowl, stir in the yogurt, then add the chicken.
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Toss to coat evenly and marinade overnight. If you cannot marinade overnight then put little sticks in the meaty part of the drumsticks and marinade for however long you can
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When you are ready to cook bring the chicken out so it comes to room temperature and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
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Lightly brush the drumsticks with oil.
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Bake for 20 minutes, flip, baste with the marinade bake for another 20 and then check for doneness. You can break a piece or if you have a meat thermometer then the chicken needs to be at 180 in the meatiest part.
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Drizzle more cooked marinade over it and serve with rice or naan and some veggies.
You can always barbecue these or cook them stove top if that is what you prefer!
Have kids and looking for more ideas? Here are a few dishes that mine eat (on repeat!)
