Drumstick Recipe | Drumstick Curry » Dassana’s Veg Recipes

Just like coconut and banana, the entire trees of which are beneficial and super useful in a balanced and wholesome Indian meal, same is the case with the drumstick or moringa tree. From the leaves, flowers to drumsticks, each part of the moringa tree has many health benefits. Thus, also categorized as a super food. Here, I have shared an easy and simple Drumstick Recipe. This is a no-fuss and yummy North Indian style Drumstick Curry made with drumsticks. The recipe is also vegan and gets done within half an hour.

About Drumstick Curry Recipe

First things first, to avoid any confusions, the drumsticks used in this Drumstick Recipe are the pods of the moringa oleifera or moringa tree, and not the chicken drumsticks. In Hindi, drumstick pods are also known as saijan ki phalli. So, which obviously makes this preparation of Drumstick Curry as a vegetarian plant based one.

Like I mentioned in the beginning, moringa has many health benefits and the consumption of the various parts of the moringa tree is quite common in Indian cuisine. In this recipe post, you have the lovely Drumstick Curry with North Indian flavors.

Other regional cuisines like Bengali cuisine has crispy fried, lightly salted moringa flowers. Top some steaming hot rice with these fried flowers, a dollop of ghee, mix and have it. This is a delicacy in the Bengali food culture.

Another Drumstick Recipe is a simple stir-fry with some mustard seeds, turmeric and salt, and also drumsticks cooked with posto (poppy seeds or khus khus).

In this particular North Indian style Drumstick Recipe, a paste is made of onion, tomato, ginger and garlic. You begin preparing the dish by cooking this paste with cumin seeds first. This paste adds a body to the Drumstick Curry besides making it flavorful.

In addition to the paste and drumsticks, other ingredients that go in this Drumstick Curry are turmeric powder, red chili powder, asafoetida (hing), garam masala powder and some fresh coriander leaves for garnishing.

These spices can be adjusted according to your personal preferences. Also, since this Drumstick Recipe is Punjabi style, I would suggest using the Punjabi garam masala powder in it. However, if you don’t have it, you can use your regular garam masala powder too.

This onion-tomato based Drumstick Curry is thin, light and a bit spicy. There are full-on flavors of the drumsticks in it, and really pairs well with steamed rice or a rice-based dish like dal khichdi. This curry can also be paired as a side dish with dal-rice combination. Overall, it is a healthy side dish.

If you have drumsticks at home, this Drumstick Recipe is an easy and quick dish that you can prepare with them. Usually, I also add drumsticks in a South Indian Avial, Sambar or in dals. I also make a special Drumstick Sambar with it, which is one of those few recipes that I make with drumstick only.

Expert Tips

1. Make sure to rinse, peel and then chop the drumsticks into the desired size. Better to use tender drumstick pods, as if the pods are matured, they cake more time to cook and do not taste that good.
2. You can adjust the quantity of spices, as per your likings and taste preferences.
3. Ensure cooking the drumstick till tender and well-cooked. They should not become mushy or break.
4. Also, better to use a homemade garam masala powder in this dish. For the recipe, you can refer to this Garam Masala Powder post.

More Curry Recipes To Try!

Moderate • 45 mins

Okra Recipes

Bhindi Masala Recipe

Moderate • 1 hr

Capsicum Recipes

Capsicum Curry | Capsicum Masala

Moderate • 30 mins

Cauliflower Recipes

Cauliflower Curry

Moderate • 30 mins

Brinjal Recipes

Brinjal Curry (Baingan Masala)

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more veetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Drumstick Recipe | Drumstick Curry

By Dassana Amit

This Drumstick Curry is a simple, easy and a one-pot Drumstick recipe. This curried preparation is made with tender drumsticks (moringa pods), onions, tomatoes, spices and herbs. Serve with roti or steamed rice for a comforting meal.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe

Preparation

• Rinse the drumsticks a few times in water. Peel lightly and chop the drumsticks into 3 to 4 inches pieces long sticks or batons.

• Make a smooth and fine curry paste paste without adding any water with the onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic.

Making drumstick curry

• Heat oil in a pan. Crackle the cumin first on low. Then add the ground curry paste.

• Be careful when adding the paste. It might splurge.

• Stir to mix well and then add the turmeric, kashmiri red chili powder and asafoetida.

• Sauté stirring often till you see oil leaving the sides of the masala.

• Add the drumsticks and stir so that the masala coats them well.

• Pour water and season with salt. Cover the pan and let the drumsticks cook till they become tender and well cooked. They should not break and become mushy.

• Do check when the curry is simmering and the drumsticks are cooking. If the water reduces and the curry looks very thick and the drumsticks are not yet cooked, add some hot water.

• Lastly sprinkle garam masala and stir. Garnish the drumstick gravy with coriander leaves.

• Serve drumstick curry with steamed rice or any khichdi.

• You can adjust the spices and seasonings as required.
• Remember to make this drumstick recipe with fresh, tender and green moringa pods. Avoid using woody or dried or matured pods as they take a lot of time to cook. You might also have to discard them if they are too woody or dried.
• For a slightly thicker curry add less water and for a slightly thin pouring consistency, add more water. 

Nutrition Facts

Drumstick Recipe | Drumstick Curry

Amount Per Serving

Calories 190 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 12g

Sodium 608mg26%

Potassium 455mg13%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 1215IU24%

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.1mg7%

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.1mg6%

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%

Vitamin B6 0.3mg15%

Vitamin C 28mg34%

Vitamin E 7mg47%

Vitamin K 13µg12%

Calcium 64mg6%

Vitamin B9 (Folate) 30µg8%

Iron 2mg11%

Magnesium 30mg8%

Phosphorus 65mg7%

Zinc 0.5mg3%

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

Like what you see?

Stay up to date with new recipes and ideas.

This Drumstick Curry recipe from the archives first published in January 2014 has been updated and republished on December 2022.