Ghanaian Chichinga (Spicy Beef Skewers)

About This Recipe

Chichinga is Ghana's answer to suya — spiced beef or goat skewers grilled over charcoal and rolled in a mixture of ground roasted peanuts and spices before serving. The 'chichinga man' is found at every street corner and market in Accra, and the smell of grilling meat and roasting peanuts drifting through the air is one of the most evocative aromas of Ghanaian urban life.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 500 gbeef sirloin, cut into cubes
• 1 tspground ginger
• 1 tspgarlic powder
• 1 tsponion powder
• 1 tsppaprika
• 1/2 tspcayenne pepper
• 1 tspsalt
• 2 tbspvegetable oil
• 1 cuproasted groundnuts (peanuts), finely ground
• 1/2 tspcayenne (for coating)

Instructions

1. 1

   Marinate the beef

   Combine beef cubes with ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and oil. Mix well. Marinate for 30 minutes.

2. 2

   Thread the skewers

   Thread beef onto skewers.

3. 3

   Mix the coating

   Mix ground peanuts with cayenne and a pinch of salt.

4. 4

   Grill

   Grill over high heat for 3–4 minutes per side until charred and cooked through.

5. 5

   Coat and serve

   Roll hot skewers in the spiced ground peanut mixture. Serve immediately with sliced onion and tomato.

Variations

• •

  Make with goat meat for a more traditional flavor

• •

  Add liver or kidney pieces to the skewer

• •

  Serve with spicy pepper sauce

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

Storage

Best eaten immediately. Can be refrigerated for 2 days and reheated.

Frequently Asked Questions