African Food and Art

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Homemade African Suya Meat Rub Recipe

Let's make an easy suya meat rub like they do in Nigeria’s capital city of Lagos.

Grilled Chicken Wings at African Happy Hour Suya Joints

What are Suya Joints?

Suya Spots in Africa three facts.
Suya is a street food that defies ethnic and racial boundaries. 
Suya sellers create delicious street food from the flames of charcoal grills. 
Suya spots are Lagos equivalent to happy hour.


Mai Suya, often referred to as Mallam are people who make their living by selling roasted Suya, a spicy skewered meat that is a popular delicacy among many African ethnic groups. 

However, Suya is a street food that defies ethnic and racial boundaries, as even non-locals enjoy it as much as locals. 

Nigeria’s capital city of Lagos generates about a quarter of Nigeria's total gross domestic product; this is due to impart of the local entrepreneurs, the Suya seller.

Mai Suya, often referred to as Mallam are people who make their living by selling roasted Suya, a spicy skewered meat that is a popular delicacy among many African ethnic groups.
Cheap eats, good friends African happy hour 

One of the most prominent ethnic groups in Northern Nigeria, the Hausa tribe traditionally prepares Suya. Suya sellers create delicious street food from the flames of charcoal grills. 

The Mai Suya enticing grill smoke along with the smell of spices and cooking meat arouses the taste of Lagos elite class and anyone around. Suya stands are a popular roadside snack for commuters, motorists, and passers-by, every evening at open markets and malls.

One the reason why Suya spots in Lagos are so popular is after a hard day of work, workers seek out relaxation places such as Suya spots or bars to unwind. Suya spots are Lagos equivalent to happy hour where friends and coworkers relax with drinks and suya.

Suya typically costs around 200 naira or .63 cents US for a stick and can be made with grilled chicken, beef, fish bits of kidney, liver, and gizzard, and sometimes goat meat, depending on the demand of the clients in the locality.

Suya is generally made with skewered beef, fish or chicken. The meat is rubbed-in with a dry spice mix containing groundnut powder, cayenne pepper, ginger, paprika, and onion powder. It is often served with spices, sliced onions, tomatoes, cabbages, and other vegetables.

Homemade African Suya Meat Rub Recipe

Suya typically costs around 200 naira or .63 cents US for a stick and can be made with grilled chicken, beef, fish bits of kidney, liver and gizzard, and sometimes goat meat
Suya
Ingredients
1 cup roasted peanuts
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 bouillon cube crushed
¼ teaspoon ginger


Directions
Add all spices to a coffee grinder and grind carefully taking care not to over process the mixture or it will turn into peanut butter. 

The texture should resemble fine breadcrumbs. Rub spice mix on uncooked meat, rest for 15 minutes and grill as usual. Store unused portions in an airtight container or keep in the freezer in a sealable plastic bag.

Did you know?
Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria, as well as on the African continent and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

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