A plate of golden chicken lollipops with a pot of bright red sauce on a wooden table with a green background

Spicy chicken lollipops

Name: Spicy chicken lollipops
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: Serves 6 as a snack
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 6 small chicken drumsticks; 3 lemons, juiced (to make 100ml); 3 tbsp sea salt flakes; 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped; 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 15g ginger, peeled and grated; 2 tbsp curry leaves, finely chopped; 2 tbsp kashmiri chilli powder; 1 tbsp garam masala; 1 tbsp ground turmeric; 25g plain flour; 10g rice flour; 4 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tbsp coriander, roughly chopped; chilli sauce and lime wedges, to serve

Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:45 mins
- Cook:25 mins
- plus marinating
A little effort
Serves 6 as a snack

Ingredients

6 small chicken drumsticks
3 lemons, juiced (to make 100ml)
3 tbsp sea salt flakes
1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
15g ginger, peeled and grated
2 tbsp curry leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp kashmiri chilli powder
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tbsp ground turmeric
25g plain flour
10g rice flour
4 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp coriander, roughly chopped
chilli sauce and lime wedges, to serve

Method

STEP 1
Using a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, cut through the skin and tendons of the drumsticks, where the meatier end starts to thin out about two-thirds of the way down the drumstick. Push the meat down to the top of the drumstick. Remove the joint and skin at the other end by bending it backwards – you’ll have to use a bit of force but it will come off. Put all the drumsticks in a baking dish. Pour over the lemon juice and sprinkle with the salt, then use your hands to rub this into the drumsticks. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hrs or preferably overnight.
STEP 2
In a large bowl, combine the chilli, garlic, ginger, curry leaves, chilli powder, garam masala, turmeric and the flours. Add the marinated chicken and mix well, rubbing in the mixture to coat the chicken. Chill for at least 3 hrs.
STEP 3
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large, deep, ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat and, once hot, fry the chicken lollipops for 15 mins, turning often until evenly browned and crisp. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10 mins or until the chicken is cooked through – it should have an internal temperature of 75C.
STEP 4
Transfer the chicken lollipops to a serving platter. Scatter with the coriander and serve alongside the chilli sauce for dipping and lime wedges for squeezing over.