Soups & Stews

Miyan Gyada

Name: Miyan Gyada
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 110 min
Total time: 130 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients: 600 g beef (Stewing cut, cubed); 200 g unsalted roasted groundnuts (Ground to a fine meal or paste); 200 g spinach (Washed and chopped); 2 medium tomatoes; 1 medium red bell pepper; 1 small Scotch bonnet pepper; 1 medium onion (Divided); 2 tbsp palm oil; 1 tsp ground dawadawa (Locust-bean version); 0.75 tsp salt (Adjust to taste); 1400 ml water

Roasted groundnuts thicken a peppery beef soup finished with spinach. Groundnuts play several roles in northern kitchens: they can become oil, snacks, drinks or the body of a soup. In miyan gyada the nut itself is the principal thickener. Cooks vary the meat and greens, and the soup sits within a much wider West African groundnut tradition. Cultural context: This is a northern Nigerian groundnut-soup version; groundnut soups also belong to many other Nigerian and West African cuisines.

Miyan Gyada, an orange-tan beef and groundnut soup with cooked spinach in a plain bowl.

20 minPreparation

110 minCooking

6Servings

What you’ll need

6 servings

Let’s get cooking

1
Simmer beef with half the onion, half the salt and 1 litre water for 60–75 minutes, until tender. Keep the cooking liquid.
2
Blend tomatoes, bell pepper, chilli and remaining onion with 100 ml water. Heat oil in a separate large pot and cook this mixture for 10–12 minutes, stirring, until reduced.
3
Whisk groundnuts with the remaining 300 ml water. Add to the pepper base with beef, its broth and dawadawa.
4
Simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring often. Add hot water as needed to keep the soup loose enough to stir without sticking.
5
Fold in spinach, cook for 3–5 minutes and adjust salt. Serve with tuwo or plain rice.

A little kitchen wisdom

Unsweetened peanut butter can be used; start with 180 g and thin it before adding Use fresh-smelling, sound groundnuts from a reputable source; discard mouldy or rancid nuts Timing: active preparation 20 min; cooking 110 min; additional passive time 0 min; conservative planning allowance 130 min. Some stages may overlap. Recipe status: Research draft; not kitchen-tested. Allergens and checks: peanuts

Recipe notes & sources

Research draft; not kitchen-tested

Also known as: Miyar gyada, Miyan geda, Groundnut soup

This is a northern Nigerian groundnut-soup version; groundnut soups also belong to many other Nigerian and West African cuisines.

Allergens: peanuts