suya — Northern Region, Nigeria

Suya is a meat grill (prepared on skewers), of Hausa origin, popular in Nigeria, Niger, northern Cameroon, Ghana (where it is called chi(n)chinga or kyikyinga) and Sudan (where it is called agashe). Suya is prepared from meat (including offal: liver, kidneys, tripe) of beef, sheep or chicken. The meat cut into thin slices is marinated in a mixture of spices (clove, red pepper, black pepper…), salt (and/or Maggi cube ground into powder or MSG), crushed peanuts and vegetable oil, before being grilled over a barbecue; it is often accompanied by raw sliced tomatoes and onions, a preparation based on dried and ground chili pepper, and sometimes masa (rice cake). It can also be served with jollof rice, fried plantains or other sides. The recipe can vary significantly from one region to another and depending on personal preferences. Mostly consumed by Muslim populations, the meat used is generally halal. Kilishi can be considered as a dried variant of suya. Suya is widely available in Nigeria and several other African countries, where it can be bought on the street or in outdoor restaurants, with or without skewers, usually wrapped in newspaper or aluminum foil. Cooked suya is generally removed from the skewers and cut into bite-sized pieces. It is often served with additional toppings or enhanced with a mixture of Yaji chili peppers, as well as sliced onions and tomatoes, which can be ordered fried or raw if desired. In traditional Hausa culture, it is common to serve dishes with Hausa masa (tortillas made from rice, cereals or corn soaked). Suya can also be consumed with rice, kosai, garri or ogi. Suya is traditionally and primarily prepared by Hausa men, who are called "mai tsire" or "mai suya" ("mai" means "seller" in Hausa language). Originating in Nigeria but popular throughout West Africa and its diaspora, Suya is an important element of Hausa culture and food. In Nigeria, it is called Suya spice, but in Ghana, it is called Chinchinga or Kebab spice. This spice consists of ground peanuts mixed with various spices. The combination of spices and ground peanuts sprinkled on meat, fish or seafood creates an indescribable dynamic. Kyinkyinga (pronounced chin-chin-gá) or cincinga (Hausa spelling) is a grilled skewer or kebab common and popular in West Africa, related to the Suya kebab. Kyinkyinga is a Ghanaian Hausa dish popularized by traders in Zango neighborhoods of towns and villages, and which became popular among other Ghanaians. It is therefore very similar or synonymous with suya kebab in Nigeria and Niger, also known as suya, tsinga, cinga, cicinga, cincinga, tsire agashi, cacanga or tankora in Hausa language. Although the name suya is more recognizable in many regions of Nigeria, the Hausa community still most often uses the original name, "tsire." There are many variations of fried meat in traditional Hausa cuisine (Balangu, Kilishi, etc.), but the most popular is Suya. The dried version of Suya is called Kilishi. Although suya is a traditional dish of Hausa Nigerians, it has permeated Nigerian society by being accessible to all and everywhere. It has been described as a unifying factor in Nigeria. Suya has become Nigeria's national dish, with different regions claiming the superiority of their recipe and cooking methods, but similar recipes of fried meat are common in many West African countries. --- Entry automatically compiled from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7650627) and Wikipedia. It will be replaced as soon as a contributor submits a cooked recipe.