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Market Suya (Nigerian Skewers)

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(6)

Wednesday Night Nigerian Recipes Photo of Beef Shrimp and Chicken Suya on Skewers.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones

A traditional street food in Nigeria, these skewers of beef, chicken, and shrimp are highly seasoned with a spice mix of ground peanuts, cayenne, ginger, and more. While they're most often served simply with shaved onions and sliced tomato, here a tomato-cream dipping sauce quells the fiery heat.

Editor's Note

For even more punch, prepare extra spice rub and reserve it to sprinkle over the grilled skewers.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4–6 servings

Ingredients

For the suya spice blend:

3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 ½ tablespoons roasted peanuts, ground into a fine powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
½ tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 Maggi bouillon cubes, crushed

For the suya:

1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 pound Wagyu rib eye beef, thinly sliced into strips
1 pound boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces

For the roasted tomato soubise:

2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes, stemmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
1 cup heavy cream

Preparation

  1. Make the spice blend:

    Step 1

    In a small bowl, combine all the spice blend ingredients until incorporated.

  2. Prepare the suya:

    Step 2

    In three separate bowls, place the shrimp, beef, and chicken. Divide the spice blend equally among the bowls and mix well to coat the meats. Cover each bowl in plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for 1 hour.

  3. Make the soubise:

    Step 3

    Preheat oven to 400°F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the tomatoes with the olive oil and salt. Transfer to the oven and roast for 15 minutes, then remove and let cool.

    Step 4

    In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until they have fully broken down, 10 minutes. Stir in the cream and bring to a light simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cream has reduced and become thick. Transfer to a blender and purée until smooth. Season with salt and set aside.

  4. To finish:

    Step 5

    Light a grill or place a grill pan over medium-high heat. Skewer the shrimp, rib eye, and chicken on soaked 12-inch bamboo skewers. Grill, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes for the shrimp, 2 to 3 minutes for the rib eye, and 6 to 8 minutes for the chicken. Serve alongside the roasted tomato soubise.

The cover of Kwame Onwuachi's memoir, featuring a stylized image of the chef against a red background.
From Notes From a Young Black Chef: A Memoir. Copyright © 2019 by Kwame Onwuachi. Reprinted with permission by Knopf. Buy the full book from Amazon.
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