ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Mauritania
Four dishes to try in Mauritania, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Four dishes to try in Mauritania
Thieboudienne Ceebu jën
Fish and broken rice cooked in tomato sauce with vegetables.
How to have it: Shared with Senegal; the main lunch dish in Nouakchott and the south, eaten from a shared platter.
Méchoui مشوي
Whole lamb or goat slowly roasted over coals.
How to have it: Prepared for guests and celebrations; tear the meat by hand from the shared tray.
Couscous كسكس
Steamed grains, often millet or wheat, topped with mutton or camel meat and sauce.
How to have it: Common at family meals and in the north; served from a large communal bowl.
Mauritanian tea أتاي
Strong green tea with mint and sugar, poured high to make a foam.
How to have it: Served in three rounds, each sweeter; refusing tea is impolite, so accept at least one glass.
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Questions
What food is Mauritania famous for?
Thieboudienne (fish and broken rice cooked in tomato sauce with vegetables) comes first on our list, followed by Méchoui, Couscous and Mauritanian tea.
What is the national dish of Mauritania?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Mauritania is Thieboudienne: fish and broken rice cooked in tomato sauce with vegetables. Shared with Senegal; the main lunch dish in Nouakchott and the south, eaten from a shared platter.
Which dishes in Mauritania are vegetarian?
One of the four on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Mauritanian tea. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What do people drink in Mauritania?
Mauritanian tea: strong green tea with mint and sugar, poured high to make a foam.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.