SUYA, an inevitable snack for Nigerians

                                          

Suya is a shish kebab-like food popular in West Africa. It was originally from the Hausa people of Northern Nigeria and Niger. Suya is generally made with skewered beef, fish, or chicken. The meat is rubbed-in with Tankora, a dry spice mix containing powdered groundnuts, cayenne pepper, ginger, paprika and onion powder, then barbecued. Suya is further served with tankora and sliced onions. It could be made with just meat, ground peanuts and more elaborate spice mixtures.

Suya is actually roasted red meat that has been dipped in oil and some spice made up of kuli kuli and is served hot with some chopped  onions, tomatoes and ground chilli pepper. Preparing Suya involves cutting the beef into flat pieces so that it can cook faster and then placing them on sticks, mixing it with the sources and then roasting over a charcoal fire.

When preparing Suya, it is important to consider the following steps.

1.       Put the ground chilli pepper in a bowl and mix with the salt and kuli kuli and any other spice you may want.

2.       Take your meal and slice into flat pieces. Pummel with a wooden roller if possible to make it flat.

3.       Add the spices to the sliced meat pieces and allow to absorb for a while.

4.       Pour some groundnut oil over the spices meat portions in preparing for roasting. This will help it get cooked easily without getting burnt.

5.       Insert roasting sticks into the beef and place on the metal gauze to roast over the coal fire.

6.       Roast the prepared beef gradually over the fire one side after the other.

7.       Once it’s done take out and place on sheets of paper.

8.       Add some ground chilli pepper and cut some onions and tomatoes over it to service.

9.       Serve with toothpicks and if you like some cold drinks too.

Suya is an extremely popular evening snack sold by many roadside vendors and restaurant especially in Nigeria and this snack is mostly prepared and sold by the Hausa’s.  In Nigeria specifically, ‘Suya’ is said to be one of the most attractive snack to woo a lady especially at night  because of its great taste and satisfaction derived from it and this has gingered most Hausa men to establish Suya Spots in different environment.

Suya is mostly served in Newspapers, meat on stick or sans with the sprinkling of the marinade mix, fresh tomato wedges, onions and for the brave, slices of fresh hot chilli pepper.