When you think of great cuisines, Senegal is probably not on your list. You have your Italian, French, Spanish, Chinese, and so on.
But the cuisine of Senegal deserves a spot as one of the best cuisines in the world. The reason why is because the cuisines was actually influenced by some of the best. Senegalese cuisine was influenced by French, Portuguese, and North African cuisine.
The cuisine is characterized by versatility, and was influenced by many ethnic groups in the country, the largest being the Wolof. Islam, which is also present in Senegal, also plays the role in the cuisine.
And because Senegal was a colony of France until 1960, the cuisine was largely influenced by the French.
Senegal borders the Atlantic Ocean, so fish is an important ingredient in cooking. In addition to fish, you can get find a lot of chicken, lamb, and beef in the meals, combined with peas and eggs. One thing you won’t find is pork, because Islam is big in Senegal.
Peanuts are the primary crop of Senegal, and they are largely incorporated in the dishes, along with vegetables, lentils, sweet potatoes, white rice, and couscous.
