They say the darkness is to be feared, but out of it rises a beacon of tastiness. Of finger-licking goodness. Its name? Suya.
This grilled snack is one of Nigeria’a best! If you’re in Naija and you don’t like suya, you may be an outcast.
What is suya?
Tsire, as it is traditionally called, is a spiced meat skewer that originates from the North, and is a very popular food item across West Africa.
This amazing food or appetizer is a big part of Hausa culture and is made by Hausa men called ‘Mai Nama’. Or have you ever seen an Igbo suya seller before?
How To Make Suya
There’s just one way to make it, and we love the process!
It is generally made with skewered beef, ram, or chicken. Although, now, suya can be made with kidney, liver, and gizzard.
Before smoking the meat, it is thoroughly marinated in various spices, which include a traditional Hausa peanut cookie called ‘kwulikwuli‘, salt, vegetable oil, and other spices and flavorings.
After then, it is placed over the barbecue and grilled.
Suya is not suya unless it is served with pepper; usually a combination of dried pepper mixed, with traditional Hausa spices, and sliced onions. In the past, they also traditionally served it in Hausa culture with a side serving of Masa.
Yaaji pepper is also used to serve it. This is a spicy peanut-based rub and is made from Ground Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Onion Powder, and Garlic Powder. The yaaji is rubbed generously into the meat skewers, which are then roasted over open charcoal.
Oh, yes; do not forget the darkness. There is a reason why suya is only sold at night, which we will discuss as we go.
Although Suya is a traditional Hausa Nigeria dish, it has since transcended to even the outskirts of the country. It is affordable, even though people tend to spend up to N7,000 on it.
What? We cannot resist it.
Now, we have the luxury of having suya spots everywhere. Step out of your house, and you will see a million suya spots.
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What are the types of suya?
Luckily, it’s not just meat that can be traditionally Suya. Now, abokis and other suya makers can make grilled pieces of Chicken, Ram, buzzard, and liver!
I don’t know about you, but chicken is the greatest kind of suya. I mean, it’s chicken! Grilled chicken!
Whoever created suya deserves an accolade!
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Is tasting a right or a privilege?
Tasting is the customary practice of the mai suya offering you a piece of meat the minute you arrive at his stand. Now, this act might seem simple enough, but it serves several simple purposes.
- First, it is a friendly welcome.
- Second, it establishes the relationship between you and the mai suya for the purpose of that transaction.
- Third, it is a means to help you gauge how good the suya is and help you determine how much you’re buying, even though you yourself know say e no pass N200 from the beginning. Make we dey deceive ourselves.
If he doesn’t give you tasting, it either means he doesn’t like you or his meat sucks.
But now, another question arises: is tasting a right or a privilege?
I mean, it’s my money, it’s my food. I deserve to know if it’s undercooked or overcooked. Let me know. We’ve seen people fight with the main suya about tasting and we want to know why?
Some people are fine without tasting their snack; they put their trust in the aboki to make it well. But what happens if they don’t make it well? Do you ask for your money back?
Although, let’s be honest. Is there anything like bad suya?
Why Is Suya Only Made At Night?
Have you noticed that abokis only come out in the evening or at night?
Why?
Some of us need suya in the morning to take with our bread. Maybe we should start a new movement: Suya in the morning! Suya in the morning!
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Although, let’s be realistic; if you were to see a mai suya during the day, won’t you be suspicious? I mean, from the seeming dawn of time, it has always been sold at night. There is some unknown covenant between suya and darkness that light comprehendeth not. That’s just a fact!
However, the reason why suya is always sold in the evening is mostly because of the time people can buy it. Most times, they buy it after coming back from work. Let’s be honest- Suya is the best combo with a nice chilled drink, especially alcohol!
Selling Suya at night only seems to be a Nigerian phenomenon. The history involves people who often roasted meat or food over open fires in the night or popularly at camping sites!
History has it that why it is sold at night because of this absurd story that the fire was the only source of illumination and it doubled to provide light and energy.
I’m sure the aboki men love it all the time. It’s the time when there is high patronage from people, and this can only happen in the evening.
Also, what makes you think the main suya doesn’t have a day job? He could be a bank manager, for all you know. Or a clearing and forwarding agent.
SEE: How to Make Chicken and Chips
Conclusion
Suya has become that snack that you can take with food – noodles, bread, rice, yam, and multiple things! So now, go to your nearest aboki, buy some, and resttttttt….
Nigeria is not that hard to not enjoy some good suya!
