The Nigerian street food made from spicy grilled meat skewers is suya. Thin slices of beef, goat, lamb, chicken, or other meats are coated in a pungent spice mixture, threaded onto skewers, and grilled over an open flame. Vendors commonly slice the cooked meat into bite-sized pieces before serving it.
Suya is rooted in Hausa culinary traditions of northern Nigeria, where it is also known as tsire. Its signature seasoning is yaji, a blend that commonly includes dried chili or cayenne pepper, ginger, onion, salt, and ground peanut cake called kuli-kuli. Recipes vary by vendor and region, so the heat and nutty flavor can differ considerably.
It is especially popular in the evening, when roadside sellers grill meat for customers seeking a snack, appetizer, or accompaniment to drinks. Raw or grilled onions and tomatoes are frequent accompaniments. Suya is sometimes confused with kilishi, a related but dried meat preparation; kilishi is closer to spicy beef jerky, while suya is typically served freshly grilled.