Thieboudienne is a traditional dish from Senegal. Its name may sound scary, but it is a simple and straightforward dish to prepare. The delicacy comprises of fish, rice, and veggies. Some spices are to enhance the flavor, and the resulting dish is colorful and delicious. The treat has spread to other African countries, but the name will always vary depending on the country. In Nigeria, the dish is called Wolof rice, and in Mali, they call it Zame. As time goes by, more people across the globe continue to embrace the African cuisine, and Thieboudienne is not an exception. Knowing how to prepare this amazing dish is great since it gives you the options to either enjoy your own cooking, or eat it at restaurants. Better still; you have the freedom to customize it to suit your preferences. When you are too busy and can’t cook the dish, or simply want to experience the taste of Thieboudienne at an African restaurants, just head out to any good one around you.

Now, without much ado, let me take you through the cooking process.  Stay with me!

Course: Main Dish

Preparation: Easy

Serves: 4-6 serves

Recipe

• 1 pound fish (any type)

• Rice 1.5kgs

• Three garlic cloves

• Two medium onions

• Parsley 1 bunch

• One cassava tuber (peeled properly)

• Tomato paste 250ml

• Cabbage 125 g (chopped)

• Carrots 4pcs (cut crosswise in half)

• Four tomatoes for puree

• Two Maggi cubes

• One eggplant

• Cooking oil (palm or canola)

• 1tbsp. black pepper

• Salt

Guide

Fish

• Prepare your stuffing by chopping your onion, garlic, parsley, and one cube together

• Add enough oil in a saucepan for frying your fish. As the oil heats up, stuff your seasoning in your fish and fry it

• In a cooking pot, sauté your onions and add your tomato paste and puree. Cook for three minutes then add more water and bring it to boil

• Add your veggies (carrots, cassava, eggplant, cabbage) the remaining stuff and fish. Add more water to cover it then simmer. Let it cook under medium heat until everything is fully cooked

• Add your pepper and salt. Stir and taste to make sure everything is balanced

• Cook it for one minute then remove from the stove

Rice

• Wash your rice properly and steam it in another cooking pot

• Add warm water in a bowl and crush the remaining cube inside. Stir it until it fully dissolves then add to your rice

• Cook the rice for 15 minutes on medium heat until the water completely evaporates

• Put it aside for 2 minutes

• Serve your meal, starting with rice and center your fish and veggies at the center. Garnish with tomato slices or lemon slices

Thieboudienne is a highly nutritious and simple to prepare. Though you can’t miss the main ingredients, you are not constrained to specific vegetables, fish, rice, and spices. You can bring on your preferred ingredients to customize it to suit your preferences. Prepare yours today and share your experience. Bon Appetite!