Nigerian Suya-Spiced Watermelon and Cucumber Bites with Lime

Blitz the roasted peanuts in a spice grinder or small food processor in short pulses until they are coarse and sandy, stopping well before they turn to butter.

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 small seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 English cucumber, cut into thick rounds
• 1/3 cup roasted peanuts
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 limes, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Instructions

1. Blitz the roasted peanuts in a spice grinder or small food processor in short pulses until they are coarse and sandy, stopping well before they turn to butter.
2. Tip the ground peanuts into a bowl and stir through the smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, ground ginger and salt to make your suya spice.
3. Chill the watermelon cubes and cucumber rounds in the refrigerator for at least an hour so they are thoroughly cold and crisp.
4. Pat the watermelon dry with paper towels just before assembling, which keeps the spice from turning to paste on contact.
5. Set a cucumber round on each watermelon cube and secure with a short skewer or cocktail pick.
6. Arrange the bites on a chilled platter and dust generously with the suya spice.
7. Squeeze a lime wedge over the platter, tuck the mint leaves between the bites, and serve the remaining wedges alongside.
8. Serve within 15 minutes of spicing, while the watermelon is cold and the peanut spice is still dry and fragrant.
9. Suya is Nigeria's great street-food seasoning, a peanut and chili blend usually rubbed onto skewered beef and grilled over open coals. Turning it loose on cold fruit is a newer idea but a sound one: the spice is salty, nutty and hot, and watermelon answers all three at once. Nigerian vendors have long sold fruit dusted with pepper mixes, so the logic here is borrowed rather than invented.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 120 kcal
• Protein: 4g
• Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 11g
• Sodium: 400mg