Suya is generally made by grilling spiced meat over red-hot coal in Nigeria, but you can get the same result if you have a simple griller or oven with a grill compartment.
It is actually the most popular Hausa snack. I have been enjoying it from my 14th birthday, right before I learned what zo meant in Hausa langauge.

In the last few weeks we have been talking about Hausa foods and it will continue for another couple of days before we switch to popular Yoruba recipes and how to make them.

Suya is actually easy to make, as long as you can lay your hands on the spice and any meat of choice. Usually, it was made with beef but in recent times I have seen chicken suya and even that from bush meat. 😀

This recipe is for both the beef and chicken version of suya.

Here is what it really looks like. I made this some days back in my kitchen. As I said, it is really easy; as long as you can find the necessary ingredients.

Ingredients For Nigerian Beef Suya

• Beef (1KG)
• Suya Spice
• 2 seasoning cubes
• Salt to Taste
• Ground dried pepper (optional)
• Suya sticks (optional)
• vegetable oil (100ml)
• Griller

Preparation

It is actually possible to mix your own suya spice but it is not necessary if you live in Nigeria. If you don’t live in Nigeria you can still purchase the spice from most online shops.

I live in Port Harcourt Nigeria and I purchased mine from Hausa suya makers at Okija/Ikwerre road, mile 1, Portharcourt. You can always ask the friendly ABOKI for directions. If you get the main spice, you can be sure to make the exact kind of beef suya that you love.

How to Make Suya

Wash the beef properly and slice into thin fillets, you can easily do this with a kitchen knife. You can see the picture below. If you are using chicken, you just need to apply the spices on the chicken, you don’t need to slice into fillet as is the case with beef.

Transfer 5 spoons of the suya (spice) in a clean dry plate and add 2 seasoning cubes plus a half teaspoon of salt to it, mix them properly together and set aside. You will need to taste to ascertain that it actually tastes like what you get from the mallam.

Stake the beef on the sticks and sprinkle the mixed spice all around it, sprinkle evenly on both sides and commence with the grilling part.

Use a kitchen brush to rob the vegetable oil on the beef before grilling; this actually helps the grilling process.
Apply more of the spices.

Grill your suya using the local or electric griller. You can also use your kitchen oven if it have griling compartment. I used my kitchen oven

You have to turn every ten minutes while it grills, after twenty minutes, you will need to apply more of the spices/vegetable oil again. Grill for another 20 minutes and you just made suya!
Serve with onions, pepper, cabbage, tomatoes, etc.

That is how to make suya in Nigeria. I believe you can be able to prepare yours with this recipe. I would be delighted to learn how it turn out.

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Here is the video for suya, enjoy.

Chicken Recipe

The popular Nigerian suya can be made out of almost any kind of meat, chicken is second on the list, second only to plain red beef.

Chicken suya is becoming quite popular in my neighborhood. I can’t remember buying any other type in the last six months. It has all been the one made with chicken.

Recipe for Chicken Suya

You will be using the same exact recipe you used for beef above, the only difference is the chicken legs so this is going to be a short one.

Use 3 chicken legs.
Step 1
Use a sharp knife to make incisions on the chicken legs.

Step 2
Go ahead and sprinkle the suya spice all over the chicken legs, let it soak in.

Step 3
Sprinkle some vegetable oil on it and grill. Keep turning every few minutes to stop it from getting burned.
Add the spice and vegetable oil occasionally to keep it cooking.

Once you are done grilling, cut to tiny bits and serve with onions, cucumber, and cabbage as seen in the video below

Here is the video for chicken suya. Enjoy

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Beef Suya Recipe

When you apply some suya spice on plain read beef, what you get is a popular Nigerian evening snack. This recipe shows you how to make beef suya in 7 simple steps.

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Dessert, Nigerian snack

Cuisine: Nigerian Cuisine

Keyword: Aboki styled beef, Suya, Suya spice recipe

Servings: 4 People

Calories: 598kcal

Author: Chy Anegbu

Cost: 2500 Naira

Equipment

• Griller

Ingredients

• 1 KG Plain red Beef
• 1 Cup Suya Spice
• 2 seasoning cubes
• Salt to Taste
• 1 tbsp Ground dried pepper
• 20 Suya sticks optional
• 100 ml vegetable oil

Instructions

• Start by washing the beef properly, then slice into thin fillets using a kitchen knife.
• In a bowl, mix 5 spoons of suya spice and 2 seasoning cubes (Nigerian brands)
• Stake the beef fillets on the sticks and sprinkle the mixed spice all around it and allow it to soak in for few minutes.
• To help the grilling process, apply vegetable oil using a kitchen brush.
• Apply more of the spices.
• Grill your suya, remember to turn every now and then so you don't end up with burned beef
• Serve with onions, pepper, cabbage, tomatoes, etc.

Video