Oven-Baked Chicken Legs

👨‍🍳 Method

1. 1
   Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Mix the oil, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, lemon juice, salt and black pepper and rub the mixture into the chicken.

   💡Dry the chicken before seasoning so the mixture clings to the skin; a longer marinade gives deeper color and flavor.
2. 2
   Cover and marinate the chicken in the fridge at least 1 hour.
3. 3
   Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F).

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
4. 4
   Arrange the chicken in the pan in a single layer, with space between the pieces.

   Baking pan
5. 5
   Bake uncovered 40 minutes, until the chicken starts to turn golden.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
6. 6
   Raise the oven to 220°C (430°F) and bake 10–15 more minutes, until the skin is crisp and golden.

   OvenBaking pan
7. 7
   Serve hot with rice.