Chicken suya

The Chicken Suya is an African-style skewered chicken mixed with spice and vegetables. This meal can be eaten as a main dish or as a snack; it is also suitable for summer picnics and other social gatherings. 

Contrary to many opinions, suya chicken can be healthy as there are a few tricks and tips to ensure that it is not calorie-heavy. An example of this concept is reducing its oil and replacing the thighs with chicken breast. 

Another exciting part of preparing the Chicken suya is that you can grill them. There are different spice mixes you can add. So, throw in the best and enjoy some family games and time with your chicken Suya.

What Is Chicken Suya?

Suya is a spicy grilled meat skewer eaten in most parts of Africa. The word Suya originates from the Hausa people in Northern Nigeria. Chicken suya is a delicious smoked spiced meat made with chicken and one of Nigeria's most popular street foods. However, Suya can also be made with beef and other assorted meat.

Recipe Ingredients

Most of the ingredients and spices to make suya are homemade. Let’s look at the main ingredients to make a delicious Nigerian Chicken Suya recipe. 

• • Chicken Breast/Chicken Thighs
  • Suya Spice: You can mix different spices with your Chicken Suya as the seasoning adds a delicious taste and flavor to the meat. Garlic Powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika make an amazing spicy mixture for your Suya. 
  • Salt
  • Vegetable oil/Peanut Oil
  • Peanut Butter: This ingredient is another great part of an amazing suya. You spread it around just before grilling the chicken. Alternatively, you can use almond butter if you have peanut allergies. 
  • Sliced onions
  • Sliced Cabbage
  • Chopped lettuce
  • Sliced tomatoes. 

How To Make Suya (Chicken)

Making a Nigerian Suya is pretty straightforward. So, let’s dive into how to make Suya Chicken using the step-by-step guide below; 

• Soak the Skewer in Water: Soaking the skewer in water for about 20 minutes is very essential. That is because it will prevent it from burning when you start heating the meat.
• Preheat the Oven: To get the best results set it to between 450OF and 230OF. 
• Mix the Spice: Combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, white pepper, cayenne pepper, peanut butter, and bouillon/Maggi in a bowl. Add a little vegetable or peanut oil to the mixture. 
• Dry the chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Slice into medium-thin diagonal slices.
• Thread the chicken: Skewer chicken slices, about four per skewer, covering the skewer evenly.
• Season the chicken: Brush the spice mixture onto both sides of the suya skewers. Place them on the roasting pan or baking sheet.
• Bake the suya chicken: Drizzle with oil and bake for around 20 minutes, rotating halfway through until fully cooked. Switch to the broiler setting for the final 3 minutes for a crisp brown exterior.

Tips and Tricks

You can use chicken breasts or thighs as a replacement for chicken wings. It is important to note that suya spice has a strong base of peanut butter/oil that can be high in saturated fat. So, you can use it cautiously if you are on a diet. 

Also, freezing your chicken for about 40 minutes before cooking can make it easier to slice. Another trick to consider is adding coconut milk if the peanut butter is too thick. 

Some prefer to marinate the chicken for a few hours to improve its flavor. So, this preparation method is something you can also try with this Chicken Suya recipe. 

What to Serve With Chicken Suya

You can serve this as a main dish by adding African pepper sauce, onions, and cabbage. This Chicken suya recipe is also great with Jollof rice. 

Nutritional Value of this Chicken Suya Recipe

Suya has various nutritional benefits like protein, dietary fiber, sodium, and carbohydrates. For each 100g gram of chicken suya, you can get the following nutritional content; 

This meal has around 300 kcal per 100g of Suya. Protein is also available in about 30g, while it contains around 10g of Carbohydrates. Fat in suya is around an average of 10 to 20 grams.

The Sodium content in Suya depends on the amount of salt in the spice, however, people with blood pressure conditions should be cautious of their salt consumption. Also, fiber is only present in minimal quantity.

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