Mughlai BBQ · Drumsticks
Kalmi Kebab Recipe (Spiced Chicken Drumstick Kebab)
Score deep. Two marinades. Rest before serving.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenKalmi kebab is a Mughlai BBQ dish of chicken drumsticks marinated twice, first in lemon and chilli, then in spiced hung yoghurt, cream and saffron. Drumsticks often char outside but stay raw at the bone. The fix is scoring deep to the bone, the two-step marinade, and starting on moderate heat before finishing hot.
The 3 laws of kalmi kebab
Why this recipe works
Light cuts
Marinade in, cooks through.
One
Deeper flavour.
Hot only
Cooked at the bone, charred outside.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Kebab
The NineFoods drumstick gauge
Is it cooked at the bone?
Pierce near the bone.
Method · 2 stages
Step by step
Marinate
- Rub first marinade, rest 30 minutes; then coat in second marinade 6 hours.
Grill
- Grill or bake at 200 C for 20 minutes, then grill hot to char, basting. Use the gauge above.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Not scored or high heat.
Fix next time
Score deep; start moderate.
Why
Overcooked.
Fix next time
Rest and pull earlier.
Why
Thin yoghurt.
Fix next time
Use hung yoghurt.
Why
Short marinade.
Fix next time
6 hours or overnight.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Drumsticks | Main | Whole legs |
| Hung yoghurt | Marinade | Greek yoghurt |
| Saffron | Aroma | Leave out |
| Grill | Cooking | Oven then grill |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Naan, mint chutney and salad.
Store
Freeze marinated 2 months.
Reheat
Oven 180 C covered.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 2 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it cooked at the bone) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Kalmi Kebab FAQ
What is kalmi kebab?
Marinated chicken drumsticks grilled Mughlai style.
Why score the chicken?
So the marinade gets in and it cooks to the bone.
Can I bake kalmi kebab?
Yes, then finish under a hot grill.
What is hung yoghurt?
Yoghurt strained until thick.