The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Mauritanian Foods. If you manage to be in an Mauritanian restaurant or you are visiting Mauritania, I recommend the following
1. Terrine
Fish terrine is often served as an appetizer, such as at Christmas. It is light and has a rich taste of the sea. An elegant starter perfect for family fun. Possibly the best fish terrine recipe.
2. Pepper Steak with Coconut
A very exotic dish because of the unusual combination of flavors. Thinly sliced filets are fried in hot oil with garlic, black pepper, paprika, chillies, tabasco sauce and coarsely ground coconut. When ready, add coconut water. Stir fry until the sauce thickens. Usually served with rice.
3. Harira Soup
A soup of Moroccan origin based on vegetables, pulses and meat, it is traditionally eaten during Iftar, the post-sunset fast, or during the holy month of Ramadan, Maghreb, due to its high nutritional value. It consists of tomatoes, meat and vegetables and is sometimes served with lemon.
4. Avocado Pudding
It consists of avocado, milk, sugar and almonds. It is prepared by mixing all the ingredients together and then cooling. A Mauritanian speciality. This pudding is a delicious way to get extra calories when you need them. It’s so easy to eat more of this divine and healthy dessert.
5. Fish Balls
A classic that most prefer these easy fish balls because it eliminates one of the main drawbacks of fish, the bones, it has the advantage of cooking even faster. It’s crispy on the inside, juicy on the inside and so delicious that it’s no wonder it’s so popular in Mauritania.
6. Bulgur Wheat with Nuts
Bulgur wheat cooked with sultanas and walnuts is a relaxing side dish or a stand-alone meal. This spinach and bulgur wheat salad with hazelnuts and sultanas may be suitable for vegetarians, but it’s great with lamb, chicken and more. It also makes a great side dish with salmon.
7. Cherchem
Different regions have different recipes. In Mauritania, cherchem means a dish made from millet. It is made with ingredients such as mint, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, coriander, garlic and paprika. Add tomato paste and boil everything.
8. Bonava
Bonava is a very common dish in Mauritania and lamb is always a 5-star guest. A type of stew or tagine flavored with vinegar and peanut oil. Onions, bay leaves, white wine vinegar (which gives it a very special flavor) and chili powder are often added.
9. Maffe
A traditional and delicious dish, it is combined with a peanut sauce that is prepared by crushing nuts with lamb or chicken meat. The sauce is made by crushing the nuts until they release their oil. Then tomato concentrate and ground okra are added. It would be complete if you eat it with white rice.
10. Méchoui
To define mechoui, one might think of stuffed legs of lamb. This Mauritanian version has a sweet stuffing of nuts and rice. That’s why several different dishes are collectively called “mechoui” because each country has its own version of mechoui. Either way, this dish takes advantage of the abundant tenderness of the lamb to create a rich and memorable dish.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional African Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.