Tenderized and marinated in a combination of Georgian spiced kefir, these drumsticks will be your go to at least once a week.

One of the most beloved and popular Georgian dishes you should know and try is chicken tabaka, Georgian chicken cooked under a brick on a traditional Georgian tapa pan. There is no substitute for the real thing but when the weeks are packed with work and responsibility you want big flavor dishes with minimal hands on or clean up time.

This take on chicken tabaka is just that, a well seasoned bird, cooked crispy and golden brown with a big herb garlic flavor.

As a weeknight or weekend quick meal prep, try marinated chicken drumsticks in a mix of kefir and warm Georgian seasonings right before baking or grilling them off. They receive the same herb and garlic treatment hot off the grill or oven, making them a pretty good dupe for the real thing.

This post and recipe have been sponsored by Lifeway Kefir

Kefir is a natural meat tenderizer

There are many ways to tenderize meat, and my favorite hands off way is using kefir.

Chicken drumsticks don’t needs much help but the kefir keeps them juicy and helps the seasonings permeate the meat.

How does kefir tenderize meat? Kefir is a cultured diary product. It already naturally has live and active cultures, probitiocs, protien and vitamins plus a gentle acidity that will help tenderize any meat.

Another benefit of a kefir marinade, is that it doesn’t need an overnight soak. A few hours in the fridge is enough to get your meat seasoned and ready for cooking.

Can you use any other chicken part? Absolutely! Chicken thighs are great so is chicken breast or chicken tenders. The only adjustment would be for cooking time. My kids will eat a drumstick in any form, so I go with what my team likes.

Do I need special equipment?

For traditional chicken tabaka, a good cast iron pan and a weight would be necessary, but since we’re taking a short cut, a roasting pan is just fine. Use a cast iron pan if you’d like for this too, but it isn’t a requirement.

This recipe uses Georgian dry adjika seasoning. Adjika is one of the unique spice blends used across Georgian cuisine, it is typically a mix of dry peppers, both sweet and hot, marigold, fenugreek, corriander, and black pepper.

If you can’t find dry adjika, substitute with:

1 tbsp garam masala (salt free)

.5 tbsp lemon pepper

1.5 tsp garlic powder.

2 tsp dry dill

It is similar but not exact

Ingredients:

1 cup Grassfed Lifeway Kefir

2 tbsp dry adjika seasoning

.5 tbsp kosher salt

4-5 lbs of chicken drumsticks

Half a bunch each dill and parsley, about 1/4 cup finely chopped herbs

4-5 garlic cloves

4-5lbs chicken drumsticks/thighs or chicken breast

Method:

In a deep dish combine the grassfed kefir and spice. Gently lay inside the chicken and massage around the marinade. Refrigerate for 1-3hours.

Prepare finely chopped herbs and garlic, place into a food safe container in to the refrigerator to use top chicken after cooking.

Oven Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F

Line a cooking tray with parchment or foil for easy clean up.

Arrange chicken in a single layer and set to bake for 30-40minutes until skin is crisp and chicken is done.

Add the herb mixture 5 minutes before removing the chicken from the oven.

Airfryer Directions:

Preheat Airfryer for 5 minuest at 400F.

Place chicken on rack or in basket and cook at 350F for 30minutes or until golden and meat is full cooked through.

Add the herb mixture 3 minutes before removing the chicken from the airfryer.