Suya (Nigerian Spiced Beef Skewers)
In short: Thin slices of beef coated in a roasted peanut and chili spice blend, grilled hot and served with raw onion, tomato and shredded cabbage. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 485 kcal
Suya is Nigeria's best-known street food, linked to the Hausa of the north and now sold at night stands in every city. Cooks slice beef into thin ribbons, coat it in a peanut and chili rub called yaji, and grill it over hot coals. It is dusted with more spice and served in paper with raw onion, tomato and cabbage. This home version works on a grill, a grill pan or under the broiler.
Instructions
- Toast the peanuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, shaking often, until fragrant. Cool, then grind to a coarse powder in a spice grinder or food processor, pulsing so it does not turn to paste.
- Mix the ground peanuts with the ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, black pepper and salt. Set aside a quarter of this yaji for serving.
- Slice the semi-frozen beef across the grain into pieces about 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick. Thread them onto skewers in loose folds.
- Toss the beef with the oil, then coat it generously with the remaining yaji, pressing the spice onto every surface. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Heat a grill or grill pan to high, or set the broiler to high with the rack close to the heat. Brush the grates or pan lightly with oil.
- Grill the skewers for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until deeply browned at the edges and no pink remains. Brush with a little extra oil if the meat looks dry, and stay close because thin slices cook fast.
- Dust the hot skewers with the reserved yaji and serve at once with the onion, tomato and cabbage.
Tips
- Slice the beef thin and across the grain, or it will turn chewy. Freezing it for about 45 minutes first makes this much easier.
- Chicken thigh strips take the rub well; grill them 3 to 4 minutes per side until cooked through with no pink inside. Firm tofu slabs also work and need about 5 minutes per side on a hot grill.
Questions and answers
What is yaji spice made of?
Yaji is ground roasted peanuts or kuli-kuli blended with ginger, chili, paprika, garlic and onion powder. Recipes vary by cook, and some add ground cloves or a seasoning cube.
Is suya very spicy?
It can be. This recipe gives a medium to hot kick, so use 1 teaspoon of cayenne for a milder batch. The raw onion, tomato and cabbage cool it down.
Can I make suya in the oven?
Yes. Broil the skewers on a rack about 8 cm (3 inches) from the heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side. You lose the smoke, so a pinch of extra smoked paprika helps.
How long does it take to make Suya (Nigerian Spiced Beef Skewers)?
About 45 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Suya (Nigerian Spiced Beef Skewers)?
About 485 kcal per serving, with 43 g of protein, 17 g of carbohydrates and 27 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 485 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 43 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17 g |
| Fat | 27 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
