The cuisine of Mali, located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, consists mainly of millet, corn, or rice porridges served with a variety of “sauces,” or stews. These sauces can be made with peanuts, okra, baobab leaves or sweet potato leaves. Meats and vegetables are added to the sauces, which are then served over porridge, couscous or rice.
Malinese Cuisine: A Background
Beef, lamb, chicken, and fresh or smoked fish are all popular in Mali. Common vegetables are onions, tomatoes, eggplant, plantains and yams. West African dishes like poulet yassa and foutou are eaten in Mali too. Mangoes, bananas, lemons and watermelon finish off meals with a sweet touch.
All meals in Mali are prepared by women. And food is eaten with the right hand. Eating with the left hand is considered highly improper in this mostly Muslim nation. Meals are often finished with strong, sweet tea. Tea service in Mali, as in many countries, is a highly ritualized affair. Three rounds are served: the first for life, the second for love, the third for death.
Typical Malinese Dishes
A list of typical Malinese dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Malinese-style meal, party or festival.
Salads
- Salade à la Tomates et au Cocombres (Tomato-cucumber salad)
Poultry
- Poulet Kedjennou (Chicken stewed with vegetables)
- Poulet Yassa (Chicken with onions)
Meats
- Diabadji (Meat in onion sauce)
- Fakoye (Lamb in herb sauce)
- Naboulou (Meat and baobab leaves in peanut sauce)
- N’gougouna (Meat in bean leaf sauce)
- Saga Saga (Meat in sweet potato leaf sauce)
- Sauce d’Arachide (Meat in peanut sauce)
- Sauce Noire (Meat in gumbo sauce)
Fish and Seafood
- Tcheké (Fish with plantains)
- Tigadèguèna ni Djèguè Woussou (Smoked fish in peanut sauce)
Vegetables and Beans
- Foutou Banane (Mashed plantains)
- Foutou Igname (Mashed yams)
- Frites de Patates Douces (Fried sweet potatoes)
- Goyo (Eggplant)
- Ragoût d’Igname (Yam stew)
Breads and Grains
- Couscous (Grain-like pasta)
- Dégué (Sweetened yogurt porridge)
- Fonio (Crushed wild grain)
- Larho (Millet porridge)
- Moni (Sour porridge)
- Riz (Plain boiled rice)
- Riz au Gras (Rice mixed with fat and vegetables)
- Seri (Sweet porridge)
- Tô (Millet or cornmeal porridge with okra sauce)
Desserts
- Mangues (Mangoes)
- Meni-meniyong (Sesame-honey sweet)
- Pastèque (Watermelon)
Beverages
- Café (Coffee)
- Dablenin (Sorrel beverage)
- Djinimbéré (Ginger beverage)
- Té (Tea)
Malinese Recipes
Try these recipes from Mali.
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