Suya Beef Recipe
Grilled beef with onions and Kankan kan
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Ingredients
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Suya Spice (Kankan Kan) Paste
Beef and Marinade
Onion & Garnish
Method
Suya Spice (Kankan Kan) Paste
- 1
Prepare peanut powder
If you don't have pre-made ground roasted peanuts, roast 1.5 cups raw peanuts in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 8–12 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Let cool, then pulse in a food processor to a coarse powder. Sift out any large chunks; you want a gritty but spreadable texture.
- 2
Mix spices
In a medium bowl combine the ground peanut powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, ground ginger, ground garlic, onion powder, kosher salt and black pepper. Stir until evenly distributed.
- 3
Make paste
Add 3 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil and mix until a thick, slightly oily paste forms (Kankan kan). Adjust oil 1 teaspoon at a time if needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
Beef and Marinade
- 4
Slice and tenderize
Trim excess fat from the beef and slice across the grain into 1/4–1/2 inch strips about 4–5 inches long. If desired, gently pound thicker strips to an even thickness so they cook uniformly.
- 5
Marinate briefly
Place the beef strips in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Toss to coat and let rest 10–20 minutes. The citrus brightens the meat and helps tenderize slightly; do not marinate too long or the beef will become mushy.
- 6
Apply suya paste
Using a spoon or your hands, press a thin, even layer of the suya (Kankan kan) paste onto both sides of each beef strip so they are well coated. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the dry spice mixture (no oil) for sprinkling after grilling. If using skewers, thread 2–3 strips per skewer, leaving space between pieces for even heat circulation.
Grill
- 7
- 8
Grill beef
Place the coated beef strips or skewers on the hot grill. Cook 2–3 minutes per side for medium-rare to medium depending on thickness (total 4–6 minutes). Watch closely—because of the oil in the paste, the coating can char quickly. Move to a cooler spot if flare-ups occur.
- 9
Finish and season
When beef reaches desired doneness, remove from grill onto a plate and immediately sprinkle reserved dry suya spice (2 tbsp) over the hot meat for extra flavor and a little extra heat. Lightly season with the 1 teaspoon kosher salt if needed.
Onion & Serve
- 10
- 11