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Dish

Kilishi

Also called Suya jerky

Protein

What it is

Thin sheets of beef that are coated in a spiced peanut paste and sun-dried, then lightly grilled, producing a dry, chewy jerky-like snack with a strong peanut and pepper flavour.

Key ingredients

  • Beef
  • Ground peanuts
  • Pepper
  • Spices

A list of what goes in, not a recipe. Quantities and method vary by household.

How it is eaten

Eaten with the hands as a dry snack, torn into pieces and chewed on its own without any accompaniment. It is commonly bought from street vendors, given as a gift, and eaten at social occasions or simply as a snack between meals.

Cultural significance

Kilishi is a well-known Hausa food from northern Nigeria, traditionally made by drying meat in the sun as a preservation method suited to the drier northern climate. It has since become popular across the whole country and is sold widely as a snack and gift item, though its origins and traditional production remain rooted in Hausa communities.

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