Meat floss, also known as Dambu Nama or Beef Floss, is a popular Nigerian delicacy made from spiced, dried meat that’s shredded into soft, flavorful strands. It’s like jerky’s tender cousin, savory, spicy, and completely addictive.
❤️ Why you’ll love it
Dambu Nama is high in protein and flavorful so it’s the perfect snack or meal to enjoy throughout the day. Thanks to the suya spice, the meat has nutty flavors and a spicy kick to it.
Beef floss can be enjoyed on its own or added to stews, soups, salads, or sandwiches. You can also sprinkle it over rice or pasta so you definitely want to have some handy in the fridge!
Equipment Needed
To shred the beef, you will need a food processor or a blender. An immersion blender also works, or if you have a small mortar and pestle, you can use that too.
🧾 Ingredients Used
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- Beef: While most cuts of beef would work well for this recipe, I recommend brisket, chuck, shank, or round roast.
- Peanut oil: If you don’t have peanut oil on hand, you can use avocado or olive oil.
- Spice: I use a blend of beef bouillon powder, cayenne pepper, suya spice, ginger powder, black pepper, and salt. The suya spice is most important because that’s going to be what gives it that famous nutty flavor with a kick to it.
- Vegetables: Onions add tons of flavor to the meat.
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- Add the beef to a large pot, then pour enough water to cover it.
- Add the bouillon powder, onions, black pepper, and salt.
- Boil until the meat is pull-apart tender (about 1 hour). Add more water as needed.
- Take the meat out and shred it using a food processor’s pulse function, or pound it using a small mortar and pestle.
- Add the shredded beef, suya spice, cayenne pepper, and ginger powder to a mixing bowl and mix.
- Heat some peanut oil in a pan on medium heat.
- Add the shredded meat to the pan and lightly fry until the meat turns brown and crumbly.
🥫 Storing and Reheating
Before storing, allow the meat floss (dambu nama) to cool completely to room temperature and make sure it’s completely dry. Store the beef floss in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag.
Meat floss is typically enjoyed at room temperature, but if you need to reheat it, you can do so in the oven. Preheat your oven to a low temperature, around 300°F. Spread the meat floss in a single layer on a baking sheet. Heat for 5-10 minutes, checking frequently to avoid overheating. Reheating the beef floss will help refresh the crispiness without overcooking the meat.
💭 Recipe Tips
Use the tips below when making dambu nama at home to achieve the best results.
- Use cuts like beef brisket, chuck, or shank for the best texture and flavor. These cuts contain enough connective tissue to create the desired texture needed for meat floss.
- Let the beef cool slightly before shredding so that it’s easier to handle and shred.
- Make sure the beef is shredded consistently for uniform texture and drying.
- Keep an eye on the beef to ensure it doesn’t over-dry when cooking. It should be crispy but not burnt.
💭 Recipe Variations
Add a fun twist to your meat floss with these variations below:
- Spicy Beef Meat Floss: Add extra chili flakes or cayenne pepper for even more heat.
- Garlic and Herb Beef Meat Floss: Mix in minced garlic, garlic powder, and dried herbs like thyme or rosemary.
- Asian-Inspired Beef Meat Floss: Use soy sauce, oyster sauce, five-spice powder, and a touch of sesame oil.
- Curry Beef Meat Floss: Add curry powder or paste to the seasoning mix.
- Barbecue Beef Meat Floss: Use sugar-free barbecue sauce, smoked paprika, and a touch of liquid smoke.
🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
Dambu nama can be eaten with rice, pasta, couscous, or it can be added to soups or salads. It is great when you need to add extra protein to a dish. You can also enjoy it on its own as a snack.
For a healthy option, enjoy meat floss with some cauliflower rice or in a lettuce wrap with some veggies.
👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
While some versions of meat floss are made from pork, this recipe uses beef, spices, onions, and peanut oil.
Meat floss has many different uses – you can eat it as a snack, add it to salads, put it over rice, pasta, couscous, or even make it into wraps or sandwiches.
While some meat floss recipes call for sugar or sweetener, this recipe is made without sugar. It’s sugar-free, low-carb, high-protein, and super delicious!
Dambu nama, a common dish in Nigeria, is also known as dried beef floss in English.
Check out these other delicious African recipes!
Groundnut Soup
Doro Wat (Spicy Ethiopian Chicken Stew)
Nkwobi – Spicy Cow Feet
Yassa Fish
Chicken Suya
Isiewu – Spicy Goat Head
📖 Recipe
Meat Floss (Dambu Nama)
Meat floss, also known as Dambu Nama or Beef Floss, is a popular Nigerian delicacy made from spiced, dried meat that’s shredded into soft, flavorful strands. It’s like jerky’s tender cousin, savory, spicy, and completely addictive.
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Servings:6
Calories:475kcal
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Instructions
Add the beef to a pot and add enough water to cover it.
2 lbs beef
Add bouillon powder,chopped onions,black pepper and salt.
1 tablespoon beef bouillon powder,½ onions,1 teaspoon black pepper,1 teaspoon salt
Boil till the meat is pull apart tender (about 1 hr). Add more water as needed.
Take the meat out and shred using two forks. You can also use the pulse function of a food processor,or pound using a small mortar and pestle.
In a mixing bowl,add the shredded meat,suya spice,cayenne pepper and ginger powder,and mix.
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper,2-3 tablespoon suya spice,1 teaspoon ginger powder
Heat some peanut oil in a pan on medium heat.
2 tablespoon peanut oil
Add the shredded meat and lightly fry till the meat turns brown and is crumbly.
Notes
- Use cuts like beef brisket,chuck,or shank for the best texture and flavor. These cuts contain enough connective tissue to create the desired texture needed for meat floss.
- Let the beef cool slightly before shredding so that it’s easier to handle and shred.
- Make sure the beef is shredded consistently for uniform texture and drying.
- Keep an eye on the beef to ensure it doesn’t over-dry when cooking. It should be crispy but not burnt.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Beef Meat Floss: Add extra chili flakes or cayenne pepper for even more heat.
- Garlic and Herb Beef Meat Floss: Mix in minced garlic,garlic powder,and dried herbs like thyme or rosemary.
- Asian-Inspired Beef Meat Floss: Use soy sauce,oyster sauce,five-spice powder,and a touch of sesame oil.
- Curry Beef Meat Floss: Add curry powder or paste to the seasoning mix.
- Barbecue Beef Meat Floss: Use sugar-free barbecue sauce,smoked paprika,and a touch of liquid smoke.
Nutrition
Calories:475kcal| Carbohydrates:8g| Protein:28g| Fat:37g| Saturated Fat:12g| Polyunsaturated Fat:2g| Monounsaturated Fat:15g| Trans Fat:2g| Cholesterol:107mg| Sodium:709mg| Potassium:530mg| Fiber:2g| Sugar:0.2g| Vitamin A:2IU| Vitamin C:0.002mg| Calcium:30mg| Iron:3mg