Chicken Drumsticks with Turmeric and Vegetables: The Recipe for a Healthy and Tasty One-Dish Meal
If you love unusual and fragrant recipes, the chicken drumsticks with turmeric and garden vegetables will become your new favorite dish. This preparation is not only succulent and tantalizing, but it’s designed for those who desire healthy cooking without sacrificing taste. The strategic use of spices allows for a drastic reduction in salt consumption, enhancing the natural flavors of the ingredients.
The benefits of turmeric and marination
The secret of this recipe lies in the spiced marinade. The chicken drumsticks are thoroughly massaged with a mix of aromas where turmeric stands out. This spice, a pillar of functional nutrition today, not only gives the dish a golden and inviting color but is renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
A one-dish meal rich with garden vegetables
To make this recipe balanced and complete, the chicken is cooked with a rich variety of fresh vegetables like potatoes and red onions for a crispy and sweet base, zucchini and tomatoes to add freshness, color, and the right level of moisture.
The result is a main course with built-in side dish where the flavors blend perfectly, creating a delicious sauce ideal for mopping up with good homemade bread.
In short, easy and quick and healthy: rich in fiber, high-quality protein, and beneficial spices.
Moreover, thanks to its versatility, you can customize the vegetables based on the seasonality of your garden. Try these spiced chicken drumsticks today and bring an explosion of aromas and wellness to your table!
DID YOU KNOW?: Did you know that turmeric, also known as Indian saffron, has special flowers gathered in spikes, from which the rhizomes are extracted to create our “magic powder”? Calling turmeric a magic powder might seem an exaggeration, but it isn’t if we consider the numerous properties it possesses! One of the most surprising properties of turmeric is its anti-cancer effect. This precious plant helps combat the onset of leukemia and eight types of cancer affecting the colon, prostate, mouth, lungs, liver, skin, kidneys, and breasts. Although this may seem like a belief passed down through centuries of popular tradition, it has recently been confirmed by new medical theories and a real fact: in India and generally in Asia (the continent where turmeric is consumed the most), cancer incidence is much lower compared to the rest of the world.
Turmeric also has exceptional antioxidant qualities, as it can slow down and thus combat cellular aging. Besides these benefits, turmeric has remarkable healing properties, as applying turmeric rhizomes to wounds, burns, and insect bites speeds up the healing process. If this isn’t enough, turmeric consumption improves the function of the stomach and intestines and helps combat cholesterol by facilitating the elimination of excess fats. This herb is also a real boon for all those who have problems with digestion, bloating, and flatulence. For all lovers of natural remedies, turmeric is an excellent substitute for anti-inflammatories, antiseptics, and painkillers, being one of the most potent natural remedies against joint pain and the flu.
In cooking, turmeric serves as an excellent flavor enhancer. The recommended daily dose is two teaspoons. To facilitate absorption and enhance its effectiveness, you can also pair it with black pepper or fat (such as olive oil). Additionally, among athletes, the Golden Milk is well-known, a nearly magical drink for its numerous therapeutic properties, also making it favorable in diets. However, there is a contraindication. Consuming turmeric in excessive amounts could be counterproductive for the body, especially for people suffering from gallstones, as its consumption might worsen the course of the disease.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer, and Autumn
Ingredients
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- 5 chicken drumsticks
- 2 potatoes
- 2 dark zucchini (medium)
- 9 oz cherry tomatoes
- 1 red onion
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon curry
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 bunch chives (or dried)
- 1.7 oz white wine
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste pepper
Preparation
Start by cleaning the drumsticks. Dab them with some kitchen paper towels. Do not rinse them, as washing does not eliminate pathogenic bacteria and instead increases the risk of contamination. Remove their skin with the help of kitchen scissors (fig. 1).
Place them in a bowl and gently massage them with the oil, 1/2 tablespoon of turmeric, the chopped rosemary, chives, and garlic powder (fig. 2).
Let them flavor and rest for 30′. Meanwhile, wash and peel the vegetables. Cut the potatoes and zucchini into pieces and the cherry tomatoes in half. Season with 2 generous tablespoons of oil, the rest of the turmeric, a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of pepper (fig. 3).
Mix well and add the vegetables to the chicken marinade so they absorb the flavors (fig. 4).
Arrange the drumsticks and vegetables in a baking dish, trying not to overlap them too much. Add the onion cut into wedges and drizzle everything with the white wine (fig. 5).
Bake at 392°F for approximately 40-45′, turning halfway through cooking. Once the chicken is golden, turn off the oven, remove it, and let it cool slightly (fig. 6).
And voilà… the baked chicken drumsticks with vegetables and turmeric are ready to be enjoyed!
Enjoy your meal from La Cucina di FeFé!
Storage
👉Leftover chicken drumsticks, complete with vegetables and sauce, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Use an airtight container, preferably glass, to prevent the plastic from absorbing the smell of the spices and the color of the turmeric. If you have prepared a large portion, you can freeze the already cooked dish for about 2-3 months, dividing it into single servings. This will make defrosting easier and prevent waste.
Note on vegetables: Keep in mind that very watery vegetables (like zucchini) might be softer after freezing.
How to reheat to maintain juiciness?
The main risk when reheating spiced chicken is that the meat becomes dry. To avoid this:
In the oven: Cover the baking dish with a sheet of parchment paper, add a tablespoon of water or broth to regenerate the spice sauce, and heat at 300°F for 10-15 minutes.
In a skillet: Reheat on low heat with a lid, adding a little oil or water to maintain moisture.
Microwave: Use medium power and cover the plate with an appropriate lid to retain steam.
