Kyinkyinga (Ghanaian Grilled Spiced Beef Skewers)

Name: Kyinkyinga (Ghanaian Grilled Spiced Beef Skewers)
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 52 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Ghanaian
Ingredients: 1.5 lb beef flank or sirloin; 0.75 cup roasted unsalted peanuts; 2 tbsp paprika; 2 tsp cayenne pepper; 1 tsp ground ginger; 2 tsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp onion powder; 1 tsp ground black pepper; 2 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp bouillon powder or crushed seasoning cube; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 10 piece bamboo skewers; 1 medium red onion; 2 medium tomatoes; 1 piece lime; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley; 2 tbsp extra ground peanuts

Kyinkyinga are Ghanaian grilled beef skewers rubbed with a crunchy, spicy peanut-and-spice mix. They char quickly over hot coals or a hot grill and make a great street-food-style dinner or party starter.

AI image

52 min

start to finish

40 min

hands on

Some skill

difficulty

servings

4 servings

Ingredients

For the skewers

1½ lb beef flank or sirlointhinly sliced across the grain into 1/4-inch strips

10 piece bamboo skewerssoak in water 30 minutes before using
1 medium red onioncut into 1/2-inch rings for threading
2 medium tomatoessliced for serving
1 piece limecut into wedges for serving
2 tbsp vegetable oilfor brushing the grill or meat
2 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsleychopped, for garnish(optional)
2 tbsp extra ground peanutsfor dusting finished skewers(optional)

Contains peanut. Cooking for an allergy? Check the label on every packet you use — brands differ, and we can only tell you what the recipe calls for.

Method

If using bamboo skewers, place them in a shallow pan of water to soak for 30 minutes so they don’t burn on the grill.
If you only have metal skewers, skipping this step is fine.
Pulse the roasted peanuts in a food processor or spice grinder to a coarse, sandy texture (not a smooth butter).
Transfer the ground peanuts to a bowl and stir in paprika, cayenne, ground ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt and bouillon powder if using.
Taste a small pinch and adjust salt or heat to preference.
Stir in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to make the spice mix cling to the meat; the mixture should form a loose paste.
Toss the thinly sliced beef with the peanut-spice paste in a large bowl, massaging the mixture into the meat so each piece is well coated.
Marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes for quicker cooking; you can refrigerate up to 2 hours if preparing ahead.
Thread the meat onto the soaked skewers, folding longer strips so pieces lie snug; tuck a ring of red onion between every 2–3 pieces of meat.
Leave a little space between pieces so heat circulates and the edges char nicely.
Heat a charcoal grill, gas grill, or a cast-iron grill pan to medium-high (about 425–475°F / 220–245°C). Oil the grates or brush the skewers lightly with the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
Grill the skewers over direct heat, turning every 2–3 minutes, until well charred at the edges and cooked to your liking—about 8–12 minutes total for medium.
Watch for flare-ups from the peanut oil; move skewers briefly to a cooler part of the grill if flames flare.
Transfer skewers to a plate and let rest 5 minutes before serving so the juices settle.
Serve hot with sliced tomatoes, extra onion rings, lime wedges and a sprinkle of extra ground peanuts or fresh herbs if using.

Worth knowing

If you don't have roasted peanuts, quickly toast raw peanuts in a dry skillet over medium heat 4–6 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and lightly browned, then cool before grinding.
For a milder child-friendly version, halve the cayenne and add smoked paprika for flavor without the heat.
Kyinkyinga is traditionally eaten straight from the skewer—serve with flatbread or steamed rice to round the meal.
Use thinly sliced beef (partially frozen for easier slicing) or substitute chicken thighs or lamb; adjust grilling time accordingly.

Make it yours

Cooking without dairy, without an oven, for someone who won't touch chilli, or for six instead of four? Have the recipe rewritten around it — quantities, steps and all.

Dairy-freeMeal prepQuick

More Ghanaian cooking

An original Restaurant Pro recipe — our own composition in the idiom of Ghanaian cooking, not any restaurant's recipe. Written to be dairy-free as listed.