Smoky Suya Beef Skewers with Extra Yaji

⏱ 45 min · Serves 4

Thin ribbons of sirloin rubbed in a nutty, fiery yaji spice blend, seared hard over high heat until the edges char and crisp. Serve with raw onion, tomato and a pile of extra spice mix for dipping — exactly how it's done at the roadside grills of Kano.

Per serving: 548 kcal · 45.0g protein · 11.0g carbs · 36.0g fat

Ingredients

• 700g beef sirloin or rump, trimmed
• 100g roasted unsalted peanuts (or 5 tbsp kuli-kuli, crumbled)
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp bouillon powder (Maggi or similar)
• 1 1/2 tsp fine salt
• 3 tbsp groundnut oil, plus extra for brushing
• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 lime or lemon, cut into wedges
• Small handful coriander leaves (optional)
• 8-10 wooden skewers, soaked 30 min

Method

1. Blitz the peanuts in a food processor to a coarse powder — stop before it turns to butter. Tip into a bowl and mix with the paprika, cayenne, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, cloves, bouillon powder and salt. This is your yaji. Set aside 3 tbsp for serving.
2. Freeze the beef for 20 minutes to firm it up, then slice as thinly as you can against the grain into strips about 3mm thick and 10cm long.
3. Toss the beef with the groundnut oil, then add the remaining yaji and massage it in with your hands until every strip is coated. Rest 15 minutes at room temperature.
4. Thread the strips onto the soaked skewers in loose concertina folds, keeping the meat flat rather than bunched so it chars evenly.
5. Heat a griddle pan, barbecue or grill to as hot as it will go. Brush the skewers lightly with more oil.
6. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, pressing the meat onto the metal, until deeply charred at the edges but still juicy inside. Don't move them around — you want crust.
7. Pile onto a board or newspaper, dust generously with the reserved yaji, and scatter over the sliced onion, tomato and coriander. Squeeze lime over just before eating.