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small bowl of Nigerian suay (yaji) spice mix surrounded by groundnut and maggi cubes.

Homemade Authentic Suya Spice

Course: Marinade, Seasoning, Spice
Cuisine: African
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 48 teaspoons
Calories: 22kcal
Fiery, nutty, smoky West African spice blend that tastes great on anything savory
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Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 1 cup roasted groundnut or peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon crushed Maggi cubes about 3 cubes
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 2 ½ tablespoon hot red pepper cayenne pepper works well
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon white pepper

Instructions

  • Grind peanuts in a blender, coffee grinder or food processor for about 30 seconds, pausing and checking the texture as you go so that it does not over-blend and become a paste.
  • Combine ground nuts with remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix until uniform (about two minutes).
  • Store unused spice in an airtight container away from heat. Refrigerated is fine.

Video

Notes

  • What tools do I need to make yaji spice? You'll need a blender, coffee grinder, or food processor to grind the groundut or peanuts. If you have a mortar and pestle to crush the bouillon cubes, grab that. Otherwise, I have tips below on how to get it done without.
  • Can I make suya spice without peanuts? Simply put, no. You can't make authentic suya spice without peanuts as the roasted peanut (or groundnut) is key to the flavor profile. If you have an allergy or aversion to peanuts, you can try cashews or almonds. Just note that the flavor will not be the same.
  • How to store suya spice. Store your homemade suya blend in an airtight container in a cool place. You can store it in the fridge safely. It keeps for at least three weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 267IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg