Soya (Cameroonian Spiced Grilled Beef Skewers)
In short: Thin strips of beef rubbed with a spicy peanut, ginger and chili blend, grilled on skewers until charred and served with raw onion. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 300 kcal
Soya is the barbecued beef sold on skewers at street grills in Cameroon, often in the evening. Thin strips of beef are coated in a dry rub of ground peanuts, chili, ginger and garlic, threaded on sticks, and grilled until the edges char. It is eaten straight from the paper with raw onion, tomato and extra chili powder, usually with a cold drink.
Instructions
- Freeze the beef for 30 minutes so it is easy to slice. Cut it across the grain into strips about 5 mm (1/4 in) thick and 3 cm (1 in) wide.
- Mix the ground peanuts, paprika, cayenne, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and crushed bouillon cube in a bowl. Spoon 2 tbsp of the spice rub into a small clean bowl and set it aside for serving. Toss the beef with the oil, then with the remaining spice rub, until every strip is coated.
- Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Thread the strips onto the soaked skewers, folding each one loosely, with 4 or 5 pieces per skewer.
- Heat a grill or grill pan to high. Grill the skewers for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until deeply browned with charred edges and cooked through.
- Sprinkle with the reserved spice rub and serve hot with the sliced onion, tomato and extra chili powder.
Tips
- Slice the beef thin and across the grain, because thick strips or those cut with the grain turn chewy. Partly freezing the meat makes slicing much easier.
- Do not crowd the skewers, and keep the heat high and the cooking short. Thin beef dries out quickly after 4 minutes per side.
Questions and answers
Is soya the same as suya?
They are close relatives. Both are thin strips of beef grilled on skewers with a spicy peanut-based rub, and the exact blend varies by cook and by country.
Can I make soya in the oven?
Yes. Broil the skewers on a rack set over a tray, close to the heat, for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through.
How hot is soya?
As hot as you make it. Use 1 tsp of cayenne for medium heat and 2 tsp for hot, and serve extra chili powder on the side.
How long does it take to make Soya (Cameroonian Spiced Grilled Beef Skewers)?
About 40 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Soya (Cameroonian Spiced Grilled Beef Skewers)?
About 300 kcal per serving, with 27 g of protein, 6 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 300 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 27 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 540 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
