The cuisine of Senegal is a West African cuisine influenced by North African, French, and Portuguese cuisine and derives from the nation's many ethnic groups, the largest being the Wolof. Islam, which first penetrated the region in the 11th century, also plays a role in the cuisine. Senegal was a colony of France until 1960. Ever since its colonization, emigrants have brought Senegalese cuisine to many other regions. Because Senegal borders the Atlantic Ocean, fish is very important in Senegalese cooking. Chicken, lamb, peas, eggs, and beef are also used, but pork is not due to the nation’s largely Muslim population. Peanuts, the primary crop of Senegal, as well as couscous, white rice, sweet potatoes, lentils, black-eyed peas and various vegetables, are also incorporated into many recipes. Meats and vegetables are typically stewed or marinated in herbs and spices, and then poured over rice or couscous, or eaten with bread. Popular fresh juices are made from bissap, ginger, bouye, mango, or other fruit or wild trees. Desserts are very rich and sweet, combining native ingredients with the extravagance and style characteristic of the French impact on Senegal’s culinary methods. They are often served with fresh fruit and are traditionally followed by coffee or tea. Tea, known as Attaya, is served in a ritualistic fashion.
Meals
Thieboudienne or chebu jën : The literal English translation of the dish is “The Rice of Fish.” Dubbed as the national dish of Senegal, it consists of flavoursome fish that has been marinated with parsley, lemon, garlic, onions, and then later cooked with tomato paste and a variety of vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, and carrots. Rice is later added to the mix giving it a reddish look.
Thiébou yapp or chebu yap: The literal English translation of the dish is “The Rice of Meat.” It is very popular with the Senegalese and is usually cooked with beef that is first fried and garnished with onions, garlic, black pepper, red pepper, and salt. Mustard and water are later added to the mix for the meat to tenderize and soak up all the flavours. Like Chebu Jën, rice is then added to the mix and tends to be garnished with either green olives or cooked black-eyed peas.
Thiébou guinar or chebu ginaar: The literal English translation of the dish is “The Rice of Chicken.” The preparation and procedures are similar to that of Ceebu Yapp; the chicken is first fried with herbs and spices, and later soaked in water and mustard. When the rice is to be added, it is usually garnished with carrots.
Thiébou guerté or chebu gerte: The literal English translation of the dish is “The Rice of Peanut.” Peanuts are known to be Senegal's cash crop. It too follows the same preparations and procedures as Ceebu Yapp and Ceebu Guinaar, where the meat is first fried with herbs and spices. However, peanut butter is added to the dish, replacing mustard, which is added with water to allow the meat to soak up all the flavour. Creating a thick paste, rice is then added to the mix. This dish is not very well known and is rarely cooked by the Senegalese, but if so, only on special occasions.
Yassa: Now popular with other West African countries, Yassa is either chicken or fish that is first marinated with spices, and then simmered in a pan with onion, garlic, mustard, and lemon juice. This creates a chicken and onion sauce side-dish that is served with plain white rice.
Maafe, seasoned fish, chicken, lamb, or beef cooked with vegetables in a tomato and peanut butter sauce.
Bassi-salté, seasoned meat cooked with tomato paste and vegetables over the local couscous called chere.
Sombi, sweet milk-rice soup.
Capitaine à la Saint-Louisienne, perch stuffed with spices.
Footi, a vegetable sauce
Ndambé or ndambe, beans that are cooked in a spiced tomato paste, typically served on bread as a breakfast sandwich.
Fattaya, most often a street food, fried dough filled with French fries, a thick yassa onion sauce, a fried egg, a little bit of ketchup and hot sauce.
Desserts
Thiakry, a couscous pudding.
Cinq Centimes, the Five-Cent Cookie, a peanut cookie popular in marketplaces.
Banana Glace, a sophisticated banana soup dessert concentrated by Mamadou, owner of Les Cannibales Deux Restaurant in Dakar.
Drinks
Technically it's not the most refreshing, but orange juice works nice after a long day of work
Bissap is the most popular beverage. It is a purplish red juice made from hibiscus flowers, water and sugar. Fresh mint leaves and orange blossom are sometimes added.
Other juices are also drunk : dakhar, gingembre or bouye.
Tea is also highly popular
Local beers are available, however alcohol consumption is not very popular given that the majority of the population is Muslim.
