Mishkaki

Mishkaki (Tanzanian Beef Skewers)

Tanzania's beloved street-side skewers: cubes of beef marinated in garlic, ginger, lime and warm spices, then grilled over charcoal until charred outside and juicy within. Serve hot with kachumbari salad and chilli sauce.

Prep

25 min

Cook

12 min

Total

37 min

Serves

4

Difficulty

Medium

Recipe ingredients

• •800 g (1¾ lb) beef steak (sirloin or rump), cut into 3 cm (1¼ inch) cubes; goat or chicken thigh can be substituted
• •4 cloves garlic, finely grated or pounded to a paste
• •20 g (1½ tbsp) fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
• •2 tbsp lime juice, about 1 large lime, plus wedges to serve
• •2 tsp ground cumin, toasted and ground is best
• •1 tsp chilli powder, or ½ tsp cayenne, to taste
• •1.5 tsp (1½ tsp) salt, or to taste
• •2 tbsp vegetable oil, or other neutral oil
• •1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• •8 skewers bamboo or metal skewers, soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes

Steps

1. 1 In a bowl, combine the garlic paste, grated ginger, lime juice, cumin, chilli powder, salt, black pepper and oil to form a marinade.
2. 2 Add the beef cubes and toss until every piece is well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight, to tenderise and deepen the flavour.
3. 3 If using bamboo skewers, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes before threading to prevent burning.
4. 4 Thread the marinated beef onto the skewers, leaving a small gap between pieces so they cook evenly. You should get about 4–5 cubes per skewer.
5. 5 Preheat a charcoal grill (or a gas grill/broiler set to high) until very hot. Oil the grate lightly.
6. 6 Grill the skewers for 8–12 minutes, turning every 2–3 minutes, until the beef is charred at the edges and cooked through. For beef, the internal temperature should reach at least 63°C (145°F) for medium, followed by a 3-minute rest; cook longer if you prefer it well done. If using chicken, cook to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
7. 7 Rest the skewers for 2 minutes, then serve immediately with kachumbari salad (tomato, onion, chilli and coriander), chilli sauce, lime wedges, and flatbread or chips if desired.