Simple, practical, and full of everyday flavour, Indian Drumstick Vegetable Recipe is a South Indian side made with simple everyday ingredients in about 35 minutes. The recipe lays out the ingredients and each cooking step clearly, so you can adjust seasoning, texture, and serving size for your own kitchen.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 25 minutes
  • Total time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Side
  • Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients

  • 3 drumsticks (- vegetable drumsticks (cut to finger sized pieces))
  • 1½ cups (1 large onion) onions (fine chopped)
  • 2 medium potatoes (diced or cubed)
  • 2 large tomatoes (chopped finely)
  • 2 green chilies ((slit))
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1½ tablespoon Oil
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • ½ teaspoon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon cumin ((or jeera))
  • 1/8 teaspoon turmeric (or haldi)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala ((use more if desired))
  • 2 tablespoon coriander leaves (chopped finely or cilantro)

Method

How to cook Indian Drumstick Vegetable

  1. Wash drumsticks under running water. If not tender scrape off the skin lightly. Wash and chop to finger length pieces. Cube potatoes to medium sized pieces, and add them to a bowl of water until used.
  2. Add oil to a pan and heat. Add mustard and cumin. When they begin to splutter, add curry leaves, green chilies and finely chopped onions. Fry until transparent or pink stirring often.
  3. Add drumsticks and potatoes. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes, salt and turmeric. I usually deseed the tomatoes and use for this recipe. Fry until the tomatoes turn mushy.
  4. Then add red chili powder and fry for 2 minutes. If you wish to add garam masala or coriander powder add it now.
  5. Pour water just enough to cover the drumsticks and potatoes. Cover and cook till the veggies are soft cooked. Garnish drumstick gravy with coriander leaves. Serve with plain rice & ghee.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.