Chicken Drumsticks or 'Tangdi'– The King of Indian Chicken Cuts!

If there is one cut of chicken that has earned the crown in Indian cooking, it has to be the drumstick. In fact, no hospitality is quite complete unless a good curry includes them! The humble drumstick, or tangdi as it is fondly called, has a way of stealing the show—whether it appears in a rich curry, sizzling on the grill, or served as a starter.

Traditionally, Indian meat curries are made with what is known as a “curry-cut”—the whole bird is chopped into 10–12 pieces, bone and all. Cooking chicken on the bone does two important things: it takes longer, which allows the spices and aromatics to mingle slowly, and it adds a depth of flavour that boneless cuts simply cannot compete with. Most of us who grew up eating curries in India are just used to that pleasure of enjoying tender meat on the bone, sauce-soaked and finger-licking good.

In my first cookbook Garnish with Garam Masala, I shared a recipe for Tandoori Drumsticks. It is one of those recipes that never fails to impress—charred on the outside, juicy on the inside, and spiced just right.

My upcoming cookbook No Worries, Just Chicken Curries (yes, the name might be familiar by now!) takes the love for chicken one step further, with plenty of recipes starring the drumstick. One of my favourites from the book is the Haryali Tangdi Kabab. The word haryali means “green,” and here it comes from a fresh, vibrant marinade of coriander, mint, and spices. These kababs are deliciously smoky from the grill, perfect with a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of chaat masala, and perhaps a side of onion salad and chutney to complete the picture.

Succulent Haryali Tangdi Kababs garnished with fresh cilantro and served with lemon slices and red onion rings—perfectly spiced chicken drumsticks for a flavorful starter.

So whether you enjoy them in a curry, as a BBQ snack, or straight off the tandoor, drumsticks really are the cut that never disappoints.

Links to both books are on my website—Garnish with Garam Masala is available to order, and No Worries, Just Chicken Curries is out for pre-order on Amazon. It releases on the 11th of November 2025.

Succulent Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks served with vibrant garnishes and a side of green chutney, perfect as a BBQ delight or an enticing starter.