West Africa · Street food
Pastels (Senegalese Fish Hand Pies with Spicy Sauce)
Golden, flaky crescent pastries stuffed with spiced flaked fish and served with a fiery, garlicky tomato dipping sauce.
The story
Pastels reflect Senegal's centuries of Afro-Atlantic and Luso-African trading ties, transforming Portuguese empadas into an iconic street snack and party essential. No Senegalese baptism (ngente), wedding, or evening street corner is complete without a massive platter of these crispy, crimped turnovers paired with Sauce Pastels—a piquant, slow-simmered onion and tomato dip.
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