> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Suya Beef in Groundnut Oil — West African Spiced Skewers - URL: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/suya-beef-groundnut-oil/ - Published: 2026-12-31T18:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-15T19:00:40.000Z - Description: Suya is Nigeria's beloved street food — thin-sliced beef marinated in a peanut and spice paste called yaji, threaded on skewers and grilled over charcoal. Basted in groundnut oil throughout. No seed oils. - Author: Savannah Ryan - Tags: African Recipes, MAHA Recipes Suya is the defining street food of northern Nigeria and the Hausa-Fulani culinary tradition — thin strips of beef, goat, or chicken coated in yaji (a dry spice paste built on ground roasted peanuts, ginger, paprika, and garlic powder), threaded on thin metal or wooden skewers, and grilled over hardwood charcoal. Sold late at night by mallam suya vendors across West Africa, wrapped in newspaper with raw onion and tomato, it is one of the most addictive things you can eat. The fat is groundnut oil — basted repeatedly throughout the grill to keep the meat moist and carry the spices into the caramelised exterior. ## The Yaji Spice Blend You Will Need for This Recipe Large Stone Mortar and Pestle[Buy on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GHRJ5VNJ?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan[Buy on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G2XGC88?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Thermapen ONE thermometer[Buy on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084RK5Z6J?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Groundnut Oil (peanut oil)[Buy on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9F7XVK?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Yaji is the soul of suya. It is built on ground roasted peanuts (groundnuts) as the base — providing fat, body, and the characteristic nutty depth — with layers of ginger, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, onion powder, and kunu spice (ground Guinea pepper, also called grains of Selim or Xylopia aethiopica). The dry mixture is applied to the meat both before and after grilling, and some vendors dust additional dry yaji onto the finished skewers before serving. ## Groundnut Oil Groundnut oil — peanut oil — is the traditional cooking and basting fat of West African cooking, particularly in the Sahel and savanna regions where peanuts are a staple crop. It has a high smoke point and a clean, slightly nutty flavour that does not interfere with the yaji spices. Cold-pressed groundnut oil (distinct from the refined version) retains more of its natural flavour. It is not a seed oil in the industrial processing sense — peanuts are legumes, and traditionally pressed groundnut oil is the ancestral fat of this tradition. ## Serves 4 · Prep 30 min + marinate · Cook 15 min Serves 4 Prep 30 min + 2 hr marinate Cook 15 min ### Ingredients - 600g beef sirloin or rump, sliced very thin against the grain - Yaji: 4 tbsp ground roasted peanuts, 1 tsp ginger powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt - 3 tbsp groundnut oil (for basting) - To serve: thinly sliced raw onion, tomato, fresh chilli ### Method 1. Combine all yaji ingredients. Mix well. 2. Coat beef slices thoroughly in two thirds of the yaji mix. Marinate 2 hours minimum, overnight preferred. 3. Thread marinated beef onto skewers, keeping the meat flat. 4. Grill over high heat (charcoal preferred) 3-4 minutes per side. 5. Baste with groundnut oil every 2 minutes. 6. Remove from heat. Dust with remaining dry yaji while still hot. 7. Serve with raw onion, tomato, and fresh chilli. ## The Charcoal Difference Suya is a dish that genuinely requires high heat to achieve the caramelised, slightly charred exterior that defines it. A gas grill at maximum heat produces a reasonable result. Charcoal produces the authentic one. The smoke from the rendered fat dripping onto the coals rises back through the meat and is part of the flavour. Frequently Asked Questions What meat cut works best? Sirloin and rump steak sliced very thin — 3-4mm — are traditional. The thinness allows the yaji to penetrate and the meat to cook through quickly without drying out. Can I use chicken or goat? Yes — suya is made with any protein. Chicken suya uses boneless thigh meat. Goat suya is extremely popular in northern Nigeria. Where to find Guinea pepper (grains of Selim)? African grocery stores and online spice retailers. It adds a resinous, slightly menthol note that is distinctively West African. Black pepper is a substitute. Shop This Recipe Fatworks Pasture-Raised Lard Pure lard — for wok cooking, tacos, and high-heat frying. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011YMC8P2?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Savannah Ryan · Amazon Savor Africa 20 authentic West African recipes in ancestral fats — jollof rice, tagine, suya, yassa and more. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2YCJGQ8?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Related Recipes - [Nigerian Jollof Rice in Ghee](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/jollof-rice-ghee/) - [Yassa Chicken](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/yassa-chicken/) - [Moroccan Lamb Tagine](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/moroccan-lamb-tagine/) - [African Spice Traditions](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/african-spices/) **Related guides:** [West African Cooking Fats Guide](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/west-african-fats/) Shop on The Foodie Kitchen - [Seed oil free pantry guide — every fat, every brand](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/seed-oil-free-pantry-staples-amazon/) - [All 25 seed oil free cookbooks by Savannah Ryan](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/cookbooks/) 📌 **Follow on Pinterest:** [African Seed Oil Free Recipes on Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/theefoodiekitchen/african-recipes/?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) --- Follow Savannah: [@theefoodiekitchen](https://www.instagram.com/theefoodiekitchen/?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572217094296) · [All Links](https://linktr.ee/theefoodiekitchen?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net)