Chicken Suya made with chicken wings! This popular Nigerian street food recipe is perfect for the summer, entertaining or to just enjoy on a weeknight. The chicken is marinated in Suya spice also known as yaji or Suya pepper and then grilled to perfection with the wings falling off the bones. It is flavourful utterly delicious.
Serve it with some chilled zobo drink or watermelon lemonade. Let me show you how to make this delicious grill recipe at home in the oven in easy steps.
Nigerian Chicken wings suya recipe
This is an overdue post on the blog, given the fact that I make and sell the best suya spice in the UK. One would think there would be a recipe to make with it.
Never mind, it is never too late as I am here with today’s post to redeem myself as I always do with delicious finger-licking recipes
What is suya spice
Suya is the name of a peanut or kuli kuli based spice/marinade with its origin from the northern part of Nigeria, west Africa. The spice is also called suya pepper or yaji pepper.
Suya spice is a popular marinade used on thinly sliced beef and grilled on open fire until well done. It is mostly made by men called Mallam and served at nights. Over time, the mallam started incorporating other protein such as hen and chicken into the mix. They serve this grilled meat with salad wrapped in old newspapers.
Lets just say as fish and chips is to Britons so is beef Suya to Nigerians. Today’s post is not made on an open fire as we would be using our oven or grill. If you are feeling up to it, now might be the time to get your grill out.
To get the street food vibes with this chicken suya, serve on an old newspaper and please, sliced onions and tomatoes is a must for a complete homage.
Ingredients
Chicken wings
Suya spice: you can either use homemade or save yourself the stress and order one from my active kitchen’s shop. It is authentic and nothing like Jamie oliver’s version.
Salt
Bouillon powder: you can use any that you have in hand, beef, or chicken
Vegetable oil or peanut oil
What to serve it with (garnish)
Sliced red onions
Sliced roma tomatoes
Thinly sliced cabbage
Chopped lettuce
How to make Nigerian chicken suya
Prep the chicken wings! Cut it into drumettes and winglets and pat dry with a kitchen towel and transfer to a bowl
To the chicken wings, add salt, chicken bouillon powder, suya spice and mix into the wings until well combined. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave to marinade in a cool place for at least 30 minutes. The longer you marinade the chicken, the tastier it becomes, so feel free to marinade for up to 24 hours in the fridge.
Whilst the wings is marinating, to a small bowl, add suya spice and vegetable oil and mix to combine.
Preheat the grill or oven at 180C/360F and prepare the baking tray. Line it with an aluminium foil and place a baking rack on it.
Arrange the chicken wings on the baking rack. Give them enough room so they cook evenly and gets enough air circulation in the oven.
Brush the chicken with the marinade made earlier and grill/broil or bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Take it out of the oven and flip then rub more of the marinade, return into the oven and continue cooking for another 15 minutes. For a final time, bring it out of the oven, flip and rub the remaining marinade and grill for another 15 minutes.
Bring the chicken wings out of the oven and transfer to a bowl, sprinkle more suya spice. Serve with sliced onions, tomatoes and any other salad of choice. Enjoy
Tips
Substitute chicken wings for chicken thighs or chicken breast and cook accordingly until fully cooked.
Suya spice mix is heavily based on peanuts or kuli kuli which is high in saturated fat. If you are on a healthy diet wagon, use this spice marinade responsibly.
Other Nigerian popular street food recipe you would love
These recipes are super easy to make and utterly delicious
Nigerian buns, this is one of the most popular recipes on this blog, check it out.
Puff Puff, this is the fraternal brother of buns but it uses yeast. It is best served hot
Akara, this is made out of peeled beans and then deep-fried, it can be eaten on its own or with akamu or freshly baked Agege bread.
Are you after a delicious grilled chicken that is perfect for all occasion, try this grilled boneless chicken thighs.
Finally, as always lovelies, if you make this suya chicken wings recipe. Please leave a comment for me. Also, pin this recipe on Pinterest or tag me your beautiful yummy image on Instagram.
See you on my next post
All the best x
Chicken Suya Recipe (Nigerian Suya)
Equipment
- oven
Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken wings 2.2lb
- 4 tablespoons suya spice divided
- Salt to taste
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or peanut oil
What to serve it with
- 1 medium red onion sliced
- 2 medium roma tomatoes sliced
- 2 cups thinly sliced cabbage
- Chopped lettuce
Instructions
- Prep the chicken wings: cut it into drumettes and winglets and pat dry with a kitchen towel and transfer to a bowl.
- To the chicken wings, add salt, chicken bouillon powder, 2 tablespoons suya spice and mix into the wings until well combined. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave to marinate in a cool place for at least 30 minutes. The longer you marinate the chicken, the tastier it becomes, so feel free to marinate for up to 24 hours in the fridge.
- Whilst the wings is marinating, to a small bowl, add the remaining `suya spice and vegetable oil and mix to combine.
- Preheat the grill or oven at 180C/360F and prepare the baking tray, line it with an aluminium foil and place a baking rack on it.
- Arrange the chicken wings on the baking rack, given them enough room so they cook evenly and gets enough air circulation in the oven.
- Brush the chicken with the marinade made earlier and grill/broil or bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Take it out of the oven and flip then rub more of the marinade, return into the oven and continue cooking for another 15 minutes. For a final time, bring it out of the oven, flip and rub the remaining marinade and grill for another 15 minutes.
- Bring the chicken wings out of the oven and transfer to a bowl, sprinkle more suya spice and serve with sliced onions, tomatoes and any other salad of choice. Enjoy
Notes
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE RATE IT AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. USE #MYACTIVEKITCHEN OR TAG @MYACTIVEKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE YOUR PHOTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. THANK YOU!
EBUKA says
its sweet like no other
Temitope says
Lovely!
Richard Juwah says
Mad ooo 🙌.
Ajoke, this your Chicken Suya Recipe is on point! It's so easy to read and understand the step by step process.
I'm definitely going to try it out for myself. Thank you.