🌿🔥 From Sambar to Sabzi: Iconic Indian Drumstick Dishes You Must Try

1. Sambar – Tamil Nadu

🍛 Drumsticks in Lentil-Tamarind Gravy

• Made with toor dal, tamarind, sambar powder, and vegetables.
• A staple in Tamil homes, best served with rice or idli.

2. Murungakkai Thoran – Kerala

🥥 Drumstick Coconut Stir-fry

• Cooked with grated coconut, curry leaves, green chilies, and mustard seeds.
• A dry side dish usually paired with Kerala rice and curry.

3. Nuggekai Huli – Karnataka

🍲 Drumstick in Coconut-Lentil Gravy

• Made with tur dal, coconut, and spices.
• A tangy and slightly sweet curry served with hot rice.

4. Sehjan ki Phalli Aloo Sabzi – Uttar Pradesh/Bihar

🥘 Drumstick-Potato Curry

• Dry sabzi with mustard oil, cumin, garlic, and masalas.
• Rustic and hearty, often eaten with roti or rice.

5. Shevga Bhaji – Maharashtra

🌶️ Drumsticks in Maharashtrian Style Curry

• Uses goda masala, coconut, and jaggery for a spicy-sweet taste.
• Often cooked with other seasonal vegetables.

6. Sajna Chuin Tarkari – Odisha

🌿 Drumstick-Chana Dal Curry

• Drumsticks cooked with soaked Bengal gram and basic spices.
• Served with rice, it’s light yet protein-rich.

7. Sojne Datar Dal – West Bengal

🍋 Drumsticks in Bengali Lentil Soup

• Masoor or moong dal flavored with mustard seeds, green chilies, and lemon.
• Mild, comforting, and often served with rice.

8. Munakkada Kura – Andhra Pradesh

🔥 Spicy Andhra Drumstick Curry

• Features bold spices, tamarind pulp, and onions.
• A fiery side dish for rice or dosa.

9. Drumstick Moong Dal – Rajasthan

🌾 Desi-style Dry Moong Dal with Drumsticks

• Drumsticks sautéed with yellow moong dal and dry spices.
• Dry and earthy, good with bajra roti or rice.

10. Drumstick & Tomato Curry – Gujarat

🍅 Sweet-Tangy Gujarati Curry

• Made with tomatoes, jaggery, ginger, and drumsticks.
• Sweet and spicy, goes well with steamed rice or thepla.

Here are 5 flavorful Indian drumstick recipes from different regions, each with a short recipe you can try at home:

1. Murungakkai Sambar (Tamil Nadu)

Style: South Indian Lentil Stew
🟢 Ingredients:

• 2 drumsticks (cut into 2-inch pieces)
• ½ cup toor dal
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 tbsp tamarind paste
• 1 tsp sambar powder
• Mustard seeds, curry leaves, hing, oil (for tempering)

Method:

1. Pressure cook dal until soft.
2. Boil drumsticks and tomato in water with tamarind paste and turmeric.
3. Add sambar powder and cooked dal; simmer for 10–15 mins.
4. Temper with mustard seeds, curry leaves, hing.
5. Serve with rice or idli.

2. Drumstick Thoran (Kerala)

Style: Dry Coconut Stir-fry
🟢 Ingredients:

• 2 drumsticks (boiled and sliced)
• ½ cup grated coconut
• 2 green chilies, sliced
• ¼ tsp turmeric, curry leaves, mustard seeds, oil

Method:

1. Boil drumsticks until soft but firm.
2. Heat oil, crackle mustard seeds, add curry leaves and chilies.
3. Add drumsticks, turmeric, and salt.
4. Mix in coconut and sauté for a few minutes.
5. Serve as a side with Kerala rice.

3. Shevga Bhaji (Maharashtra)

Style: Semi-Dry Spicy Curry
🟢 Ingredients:

• 2 drumsticks
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tsp goda masala
• ½ tsp jaggery
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• Oil, mustard seeds, turmeric

Method:

1. Boil drumsticks in water till tender.
2. In a pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds and turmeric.
3. Add onions, ginger-garlic paste, sauté.
4. Add cooked drumsticks, goda masala, jaggery, and salt.
5. Cook until well blended. Enjoy with roti or bhakri.

4. Sojne Datar Dal (Bengal)

Style: Light Lentil Soup
🟢 Ingredients:

• 1 cup moong dal (roasted lightly)
• 2 drumsticks
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 dry red chili
• Green chili, salt, turmeric
• Lemon juice (optional)

Method:

1. Boil moong dal and drumsticks with turmeric and salt.
2. Heat mustard oil, crackle mustard seeds and red chili.
3. Add tempering to dal and simmer.
4. Finish with lemon juice. Serve with rice.

5. Munakkada Pulusu (Andhra Pradesh)

Style: Tamarind-based Spicy Curry
🟢 Ingredients:

• 2 drumsticks
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp tamarind pulp
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• Mustard seeds, methi seeds, curry leaves

Method:

1. Boil drumsticks in water with turmeric and salt.
2. In a pan, heat oil, add mustard & methi seeds, then curry leaves and onion.
3. Add chili powder and tamarind pulp.
4. Add cooked drumsticks and simmer for 10 mins.
5. Serve with hot rice.