Chicken drumsticks are a valuable meat product. It is obtained during the process of disassembling the chicken. People call drumsticks chicken legs. The meat in this area is juicy and tender. This is a great option for those people who want to eat healthy. It is enough to remove the skin from the shin, and it will become an excellent dietary product. Additionally, it is also budget-friendly, so even daily consumption of chicken legs will not “hit” your budget too much.
How to choose the right one
Buying quality chicken drumsticks is not so easy. There are many factors to consider. The choice of chicken drumsticks must be taken responsibly. The taste of the final dish directly depends on the quality of the product. And if the drumsticks are not yet fresh, then there is a risk of poisoning yourself and feeding stale product to your loved ones. It has been proven that when chicken meat spoils, many harmful substances are formed.
The legs can be purchased chilled or frozen. The latter are usually cheaper. You need to understand that choosing chilled legs is much easier. When purchasing a frozen product, you can only rely on the integrity of the seller.
If you purchase a frozen version, it is extremely important to pay attention to the thickness of the ice layer. If it is too thick, then most likely the product has been defrosted and frozen many times.
Chicken should have a neutral smell. No extraneous strong aromas are allowed. The color should be light pink. Only subcutaneous fat may have a yellowish tint. Feathers and their stumps are not allowed according to GOST.
The shelf life of a product directly depends on the conditions under which it was stored. At temperatures from 0 to 2 degrees, the shins become unusable after 5 days. But in the freezer they can be stored for up to a year, which is very convenient.
Chicken drumsticks that have gone missing usually have a strong, unpleasant odor. Additionally, the color becomes less attractive. An unpleasant stickiness may appear on the surface.
It is strictly forbidden to purchase drumsticks at spontaneous markets. This also applies to other meat products. In this case, the seller usually cannot create all the necessary conditions for storing the product. Its use will be hazardous to health. Using legs purchased at a wild market usually results in symptoms of poisoning.
Secrets that are important to remember
The recipe for proper chicken broth is simple, but it still requires knowledge of some nuances. We decided to collect them separately in this subtitle so that you master the art of cooking broth to perfection. These are the recommendations:
- If you hurry, you will make people laugh. Remember that beautiful and tasty chicken broth can only be obtained over low heat. It should simmer, but not boil.
- You only need to fill the chicken with cold water - this way, the maximum amount of collagen is extracted - a protein that is good for the skin and tendons. It can only be blanched in hot water before cooking.
- Do not use strong-smelling seasonings and vegetables to prepare the broth, otherwise the real flavor of the dish will be lost.
- If there is a need to add cold water during the cooking process, do not pour it in cups, but add little by little, a couple of tablespoons at a time.
- An important point - the broth can only be cooked without a lid. In a covered pan it will bubble, but we don’t need that.
- Since the recipe is designed to produce a tasty broth, you need to salt it first, as soon as the water boils.
These are the important points you need to keep in mind when preparing to cook the broth according to our recipe. The most important thing is to have patience, because only a patient person can do everything consistently and correctly.
Cooking time
When deciding how long to cook chicken drumsticks, you should take into account the chosen method of preparing the dish. In addition, you need to remember that the cooking time for broilers and country chicken varies slightly.
For the broth, cook the drumsticks in a saucepan until tender, 25-30 minutes after boiling. This time is enough if the legs are purchased and were obtained during disassembly of the broiler.
For soup, domestic chicken legs are cooked longer. The drumsticks are fully cooked in 35-45 minutes. Despite the cooking time, homemade legs turn out much tastier.
If you want to not only boil the drumsticks, but also make the broth richer, then it’s better to wait up to an hour. The liquid will become more saturated, but the shins will also lose their shape and will fall apart.
When cooking drumsticks without further use of broth, they are immersed in already boiling water. The time begins to count down immediately after the liquid boils.
In a multicooker, cook the drumsticks for 30 minutes on the “Cooking” mode. The time may be reduced slightly if you use a device with a pressure cooker function.
To check the readiness of meat, you do not always need to pay attention to the softness of the sirloin. You need to make sure that no blood leaks out. If, when cut, the juice released does not have a red tint, then the chicken is ready for consumption or further use. To check, pierce the leg with a fork, the tip of a knife or a toothpick.
Both frozen and chilled legs are suitable for further preparation. If the product has been removed from the freezer, you must first defrost it naturally. First, the legs are transferred to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, and then moved to the table.
Steaming chicken legs is also allowed. This way you can get a product with a minimum amount of fat. Steam chicken drumsticks for about an hour.
Should I remove the shell?
This question always arises, no matter which cooking method you use.
took advantage. You need to know that there are several types of casing on sausages. With a natural coating, everything is clear - it is allowed not to be removed during cooking, because such a composition will not cause harm. But coatings made of food-grade polyethylene or cellulose composition cannot be eaten, for this reason they should be removed before cooking. But remember that these actions can cause deformation of the product during cooking. The solution is to not overcook it on the fire. There is an easier way - remove the casing after cooking.
If you decide to cook in film, then prick the sausage with a fork or needle so that the film is not damaged during cooking. Small sausages should be cooked for no more than five minutes. The product should be immersed in cold water at the very beginning of cooking.
When choosing sausages, don't settle for inexpensive options. In more expensive options, flavoring compounds, coloring pigments, and thickeners are added during production. Sodium nitrate is present in all products - it gives a pink tint. The shelf life of products should not exceed five days.
Cooking tips
It's not difficult to cook delicious chicken drumsticks. You need to follow the basic recommendations. The legs can be used in the preparation of broths or for further cutting into salad. Cooked chicken legs are also a great addition to any side dish.
If you do not plan to use boiled chicken legs immediately, then it is not advisable to remove them from the liquid. It's better to leave the drumsticks in the broth. In this case, the legs will retain their freshness and juiciness. If you remove them immediately after cooking, they will quickly begin to chapped and all the juice will come out. By the time they are consumed, they will already be unappetizing and dry.
Before cooking, you need to inspect each leg. Any remaining feathers should be removed from each drumstick. After this, the meat must be washed.
When frying chicken legs, do not heat them for too long. There is a risk of drying out the meat. You can also braise the drumsticks. In this case, their taste will be more intense.
The legs can be served on their own or in combination with a sauce that has been prepared at home or purchased ready-made. This is a great addition to the dish.
Chicken drumsticks are served in combination with various side dishes. The legs go well with mashed potatoes, cereals, pasta or vegetables, fresh or cooked.
Harmonious and tasty!
Every housewife should have a recipe for an easy-to-prepare, universal dish in her arsenal. What could be better than the combination of chicken meat and rice cereal? And to save time, we will prepare all the ingredients together at once.
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Chicken shanks do not have to be boiled; they can be stewed, and the taste will be more intense. Don't worry that the meat will be dry. First, chicken drumsticks are fried until golden brown, which seals all the juice inside, and then, during the stewing process, the chicken drumsticks are ready.
Advice! To prepare this treat, it is better to choose steamed rice.
Ingredients:
- fresh frozen chicken drumsticks - four pieces;
- turmeric – ½ tsp. spoons;
- onion - one head;
- tomato puree – two tablespoons. spoons;
- garlic - a couple of cloves;
- salt, red hot pepper;
- canned dessert corn – 100 g;
- rice cereal - one glass;
- broth or filtered water - one glass;
- refined vegetable oil.
Chicken drumstick recipes
There are a variety of recipes with chicken drumsticks. The legs go well with a variety of products. Chicken drumstick dishes can be prepared both everyday and for a holiday table. All guests will definitely enjoy the treat.
In the oven
Chicken drumstick in the oven turns out juicy and tender. The baked dish has an attractive golden crust. You can, for example, cook chicken drumsticks with rice in the oven. In this case, you can get both a side dish and meat at the same time.
You can bake the legs directly on a baking sheet or on foil. In any case, it turns out very tasty. Calorie content directly depends on the chosen recipe. The more products are used, the higher it is. The minimum calorie content of drumsticks after baking is 198 kcal per 100 g. It will be lower if the skin is removed.
To cook crispy shin in the oven, you will need:
- 600 g chicken legs;
- 4 tbsp. mayonnaise;
- 4 tbsp. sour cream;
- 2 tbsp. soy sauce;
- 2 tsp curry;
- salt and pepper to taste.
If possible, the meat for this recipe should be marinated for 2 hours. This will help make the legs much more tender and juicy. To prepare, wash the legs and dry them with paper towels. Add salt to taste.
Grease a baking tray with a small amount of vegetable oil. Separately, you need to prepare the marinade. To do this, mix mayonnaise, sour cream and spices. Lubricate each leg with this sauce and place them in a baking dish. If the marinade remains in the plate, then pour it over the top of the drumsticks.
Bake the drumsticks at 200 degrees for about 40 minutes. The finished legs have a delicious crispy crust. They go perfectly with any side dishes.
Up your sleeve
You can also cook drumsticks in a sleeve in the oven. They taste best with vegetables. A recipe for oven-baked vegetables that involves using a sleeve includes:
- 4 chicken legs;
- 300 g potatoes;
- 1 onion;
- 1 carrot;
- 2 bell peppers;
- 1 tbsp. soy sauce;
- spices and salt.
Potatoes are cut into cubes. Onions and carrots, chopped at random, are also added to it. Pre-washed shins are also sent there.
Bulgarian pepper, cut into strips, is also added to the products. Soy sauce is poured into the mixture and spices are added. The future dish is thoroughly mixed and left to marinate for an hour.
The resulting mixture is transferred to the sleeve, having previously made several punctures on it with a knife. It is covered and placed in the oven. Prepare the dish at a temperature of 180 degrees for 1 hour.
It’s convenient that according to this recipe, not only the meat, but also the side dish is prepared at the same time. At the same time, preparation does not take much time.
In a frying pan
Fried drumsticks are very tasty. You can fry them with gravy in 20-30 minutes. The recipe is simple and can be used even by novice cooks. To prepare delicious fried drumsticks you will need:
- 5-6 legs;
- 2 onions;
- 20 ml vegetable oil;
- salt and black pepper.
The legs are pre-washed and dried with paper towels. They are salted and peppered. If possible, leave the legs to marinate for 30 minutes.
A frying pan with vegetable fire is placed on the fire. The drumsticks are first fried over high heat until a crust appears, and then reduced. Onions are cut into half rings. It is sent to the drumsticks and fried all together. When the onion turns golden, transfer the contents to a saucepan and add hot water. Cover the container with a lid and simmer over low heat for 5-7 minutes. Once ready, serve with your favorite side dish.
With potato
The legs go best with potatoes. These products complement each other perfectly. To cook drumsticks with potatoes in the oven, you need:
- 5 legs;
- 500 g potatoes;
- 2 carrots;
- 1 onion;
- 3 cloves of garlic;
- a little mayonnaise;
- seasonings to taste.
The onion is cut into rings or half rings. Garlic is passed through a press. The shins are washed and dried. They are rubbed with garlic. Grate carrots on a coarse grater. Potatoes are cut into circles. It is laid out on a form greased with vegetable oil. Carrots with onions and drumsticks are placed on top. The meat is peppered and salted to taste. The legs are greased with mayonnaise and sent to the oven. Prepare the dish at a temperature of 180 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Before serving, the dish can be sprinkled with finely chopped herbs.
In a slow cooker
You can cook drumsticks with potatoes in a slow cooker. In this case, the dish turns out very tender. For preparation you need:
- 1 kg legs;
- 9 potatoes;
- 1 onion;
- 1 carrot;
- 4 tbsp. vegetable oil;
- 1 glass of water;
- salt and spices to taste.
You must first prepare all the products. Onions and potatoes are cut into cubes, and carrots into rings. Pour a small amount of vegetable oil into the bottom of the bowl. You need to turn on the “Frying” mode and fry the legs on both sides. When a golden crust appears, they are temporarily transferred to a plate.
Place vegetables in a bowl and fry for about 5 minutes. After this, lay out the potatoes, add salt and spices. Place potatoes on top, add water and turn on the “Stew” mode. The cooking process usually takes about an hour.
In the test
Chicken drumsticks in puff pastry are tasty and filling. The dish can be prepared for both family and holiday dinners. To prepare delicious drumsticks with a crispy dough crust you need:
- 8 chicken drumsticks;
- 400 g frozen puff pastry;
- 1 chicken egg;
- 50 g vegetable oil;
- salt and spices to taste.
First, the cooled legs are fried until golden brown in a small amount of vegetable oil. The dough is cut into strips no more than 1 cm wide. The drumsticks are wrapped in it. The wrapped legs are brushed with beaten egg. This is necessary to give the dough an attractive golden hue. The open tip of the leg can be wrapped in foil to make it easier to eat the legs. It is better to serve the finished dish with a light side dish, for example, vegetables.
Stuffed
Stuffed chicken drumsticks with mushrooms are a wonderful holiday dish. All guests will definitely like it. The legs are not only tasty, but also unusual due to the absence of a bone inside. For preparation you need:
- 10 chicken legs;
- 200 g mushrooms;
- 150 g cheese;
- 1 onion and spices to taste.
The most important stage is preparing the legs. To do this, remove the skin from them to the part where the amount of fillet is minimal. Using an ax, they chop off the bone and meat. The fillets are removed from the resulting pieces. The bones are thrown away. The resulting meat is cut. The fillet is mixed with chopped mushrooms and onions, and grated cheese is added. Salt and pepper the mixture to taste.
The resulting mixture is stuffed into the chicken skin and sealed. Place the drumsticks in a baking container. Place it in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for half an hour. The resulting dish is perfect for a holiday table. The main advantage is the absence of bone inside.
Calorie content of Chicken legs. Chemical composition and nutritional value.
Chicken legs
are rich in vitamins and minerals such as: vitamin B2 - 11.1%, choline - 14%, vitamin B5 - 24%, vitamin B6 - 20%, vitamin B12 - 13.3%, phosphorus - 25.3%, selenium - 46.7%, zinc - 17.5%
- Vitamin B2
is involved in redox reactions, helps to increase the color sensitivity of the visual analyzer and dark adaptation. Insufficient intake of vitamin B2 is accompanied by impaired condition of the skin, mucous membranes, and impaired light and twilight vision. - Choline
is part of lecithin, plays a role in the synthesis and metabolism of phospholipids in the liver, is a source of free methyl groups, and acts as a lipotropic factor. - Vitamin B5
is involved in protein, fat, carbohydrate metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, the synthesis of a number of hormones, hemoglobin, promotes the absorption of amino acids and sugars in the intestines, and supports the function of the adrenal cortex. A lack of pantothenic acid can lead to damage to the skin and mucous membranes. - Vitamin B6
is involved in maintaining the immune response, processes of inhibition and excitation in the central nervous system, in the transformation of amino acids, the metabolism of tryptophan, lipids and nucleic acids, promotes the normal formation of red blood cells, and maintaining normal levels of homocysteine in the blood. Insufficient intake of vitamin B6 is accompanied by decreased appetite, impaired skin condition, and the development of homocysteinemia and anemia. - Vitamin B12
plays an important role in the metabolism and transformation of amino acids. Folate and vitamin B12 are interconnected vitamins that are involved in hematopoiesis. A lack of vitamin B12 leads to the development of partial or secondary folate deficiency, as well as anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. - Phosphorus
takes part in many physiological processes, including energy metabolism, regulates acid-base balance, is part of phospholipids, nucleotides and nucleic acids, and is necessary for the mineralization of bones and teeth. Deficiency leads to anorexia, anemia, and rickets. - Selenium
is an essential element of the antioxidant defense system of the human body, has an immunomodulatory effect, and is involved in the regulation of the action of thyroid hormones. Deficiency leads to Kashin-Beck disease (osteoarthritis with multiple deformities of the joints, spine and limbs), Keshan disease (endemic myocardiopathy), and hereditary thrombasthenia. - Zinc
is part of more than 300 enzymes and is involved in the processes of synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, nucleic acids and in the regulation of the expression of a number of genes. Insufficient consumption leads to anemia, secondary immunodeficiency, liver cirrhosis, sexual dysfunction, and the presence of fetal malformations. Research in recent years has revealed the ability of high doses of zinc to disrupt the absorption of copper and thereby contribute to the development of anemia.
morehide You can view a complete directory of the healthiest foods in the “My Healthy Diet” app.
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