Sun-dry Kilishi, travellers’ delight!

 

Kilishi is one of the meat delicacies derivable from beef. It’s common among the people in Northern Nigeria.

Kilishi has fast become a souvenir from the North for travelers from other regions of Nigeria. It’s made by cutting fresh beef into thin, wafer-like slices, seasoning it with ground pepper, groundnut and other spices.

It’s thereafter dried in the sun or oven. The unique taste of this source of protein is derived from the sun drying, which keeps all nutrients locked within it.

Kilishi is mainly taken as a snack and the process of its preparation makes it easy to store.

According to the NorthernNigeriaspeciality website, Kilishi has a long shelf-life at room temperature and enjoys high consumer acceptability because of its distinct and exotic flavor.

Some people also refrigerate it to keep it fresh.

Efforts toward making Kilishi a healthy food in terms of preparation, packaging and distribution had necessitated its being packed into wrappers (sealed cellophane or folded brown paper). Distributors believe this keeps it safe from contamination.

It’s also possible to dry the spiced meat in an oven as the last part of the drying process as this further keeps dirt away from the preparation process.

“Kilishi has further gained wide acceptance not only in Nigeria, but also across the sub-Saharan region and beyond. It is made from high quality beef obtained from the fillet and hind quarters of the remains of the animal.

“The product is sliced into thin sheets, covered in a preparation of a variety of spices and crushed groundnuts, after which they are spread to dry. Following this, each piece is then grilled and laid out to cool,” said NorthernNigeriaspeciality.

Kilishi (dried sliced beef)

Ingredients

500g beef top rump

1 teaspoon ground pepper

I teaspoon ground peanuts

Ground pepper and groundnut

1 tablespoon groundnut oil

Salt to taste

Method

Cut the meat into wafer thin slices

Season with the ground pepper and groundnut

Mix in the groundnut oil and salt

Spread slices of meat on a flat tray

Cover with a wire mesh and leave out in the hot sun for two to three days till completely dry

Alternatively, pieces of meat could be dried in the oven

Serve as a snack with your preferred drink

 July 7, 2012 by Bosede Olusola-Obasa