Street
suya
What does suya mean?
Suya is thinly sliced, skewered meat (usually beef) grilled over an open flame and coated in a dry, spicy peanut-based rub called yaji. It's sold by roadside vendors, often called 'mallams,' across Nigeria.
"Let's grab suya and a cold drink from the mallam on the corner."
Origin
From Hausa 'suya' ('to fry'); Farooq Kperogi notes Hausa speakers themselves usually call the dish 'tsire,' but the easier-to-pronounce 'suya' is the name that spread nationwide.
Frequently asked questions
What is suya?
Spicy grilled skewered meat, usually beef, coated in a peanut-based spice rub called yaji, sold by street vendors across Nigeria.
What do Hausa people call suya?
Often 'tsire' — 'suya' is the name that became more widely adopted nationally because it's easier to pronounce.
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