Black Garlic Olive Oil Chicken Drumsticks with Carrots & Quinoa

A simple marinade can bring plenty of flavour to an everyday chicken dinner. Our black garlic-infused Greek extra virgin olive oil adds sweet, savoury depth, while carrots and quinoa make easy companions for the finished drumsticks.

This recipe was originally shared in celebration of our partnership with terra20 and our connection with Ottawa's local food community. We have kept that story and the original pan-cooked approach, with clearer quantities and cooking instructions.

Why use black garlic-infused olive oil?

Gourmet Black Garlic Infused Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil combines Greek EVOO with a mellow, umami-forward black garlic flavour. Its tasting notes bring roasted, molasses-like and balsamic-like depth without the sharpness of raw garlic.

For this recipe, the oil provides flavour in the marinade. It is not a treatment for cancer, heart disease or other conditions, and the composition of whole black garlic should not automatically be attributed to an infused oil.

Recipe at a glance

Makes approximately four servings. Allow about 15 minutes for preparation, two hours or overnight for refrigerated marinating, and roughly 30–40 minutes for cooking. Cooking time varies with the size of the drumsticks and the pan; use a food thermometer rather than the clock or colour alone.

Ingredients

• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 3 tablespoons Ilias and Sons Black Garlic Infused Greek EVOO
• 2 teaspoons Montreal steak seasoning, adjusted to taste and the blend's salt content
• 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into similar-sized pieces
• 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed and cooked according to its package directions
• Water for cooking the quinoa
• Optional: 1–2 peeled cloves from our Black Garlic Bulb, finely chopped, for finishing the cooked dish
• Optional: lemon wedges and chopped parsley for serving

The measured amounts are a practical starting point added to the original recipe. Choose a seasoning blend you enjoy and check its ingredients if you have dietary restrictions. For the low-FODMAP adaptation below, omit the chopped black garlic cloves.

How to make black garlic olive oil chicken drumsticks

1. Marinate in the refrigerator. Place the drumsticks in a covered, food-safe container or sealed food-storage bag. Add the black garlic oil and seasoning, then turn the chicken to coat evenly. Refrigerate for about two hours or overnight. Do not marinate on the counter.
2. Prepare the sides. Cook the quinoa according to the package instructions. Steam or roast the carrots until tender, keeping them separate from raw chicken and its utensils.
3. Brown the drumsticks. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Lift the chicken out of the marinade and place it in the pan without overcrowding. Brown on several sides, turning with tongs. Discard the used raw-chicken marinade.
4. Cook through. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pan. Continue cooking, turning periodically. If the pan becomes dry, add a small splash of water. Browning alone does not establish that chicken is safely cooked.
5. Check the internal temperature. Use a food thermometer in the thickest part of each drumstick without touching the bone. Cook to at least 74°C (165°F). Check more than one piece, especially if sizes differ. The original recipe's 160°F finishing instruction has been corrected.
6. Add an optional black garlic finish. Using a clean board and utensils, finely chop 1–2 peeled black garlic cloves. Scatter over the cooked chicken or gently fold into the warm quinoa just before serving. This is an optional bulb-based addition, separate from the low-FODMAP oil-only adaptation.
7. Serve. Plate the drumsticks with carrots and quinoa. Add parsley and lemon if desired. If you want a finishing drizzle, use fresh oil from the bottle, never the marinade that touched raw chicken.

Chopped black garlic for an extra layer of flavour

Our Black Garlic Bulb adds actual garlic pieces as well as the flavour supplied by the infused oil. A small chopped garnish brings sweet, earthy, balsamic-like notes and makes it easy to adjust the intensity at the table.

Add it at the end rather than leaving the soft pieces in the pan throughout browning. Guests can enjoy the oil-marinated chicken as it is or add the optional black garlic finish to their own portion.

Can you adapt this recipe for low-FODMAP cooking?

Our Black Garlic oil is specifically labelled Low FODMAP, but the whole recipe still needs attention. Montreal steak seasoning often includes garlic or onion ingredients, so the blend can undermine the intended adaptation.

For a low-FODMAP version, omit the chopped black garlic cloves and replace the steak seasoning with salt, black pepper, paprika and rosemary or thyme, according to your tolerance. Use the infused oil rather than adding garlic cloves, garlic powder or black garlic pieces. Ageing garlic does not automatically make a bulb or clove low FODMAP. Check suitable portions for the rest of the meal with your dietitian or current FODMAP guidance.

The image illustrates the optional chopped-black-garlic version, not a guarantee that every ingredient pictured fits a low-FODMAP plan.

Read our low-FODMAP garlic oil and IBS cooking guide for the difference between oil infusion and garlic solids. A low-FODMAP ingredient does not guarantee symptom-free eating for every person.

Choose the garlic flavour you enjoy

Black Garlic oil brings mellow, deeper savoury notes. If you prefer a bolder, classic garlic character, explore Speared Garlic Infused Greek EVOO, checking its current ingredients and use guidance for your needs.

For an unflavoured option with herbs and lemon, our Gourmet Greek Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Original Blend offers a fruity, grassy profile and milder peppery finish.

A recipe rooted in family and local partnerships

The original terra20 collaboration was about sharing products and a recipe with the Ottawa community. That local connection remains part of our story, without implying that every historical retail arrangement or product selection is unchanged.

Today, we also value our partnerships with Misto Fine Foods, B&H Grocery and Foodsmiths. Visit Where to Find Us and check current availability before visiting a retailer.

More Mediterranean-style meal inspiration

Explore our Mediterranean diet guide for ideas that put olive oil alongside a varied range of foods, or read our EVOO benefits and health facts article for a separate, evidence-led nutrition discussion.

For this dinner, let flavour lead: golden chicken, savoury black garlic oil, tender carrots and a simple serving of quinoa, with an optional chopped black garlic finish. Straightforward ingredients and careful cooking are enough to make it worth sharing.