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Thieboudienne (Ceebu Jën - Senegalese Fish and Broken Rice)
A UNESCO-inscribed masterwork of herb-stuffed fish, root vegetables, and broken rice braised in a rich fermented tomato broth.
The story
Created in 19th-century Saint-Louis by the renowned cook Penda Mbaye, Ceebu Jën stands as Senegal's culinary soul and undisputed national dish. The preparation achieves its signature complexity from yet (fermented sea snail) and guédji (salted dried fish), which infuse the broken rice as it steams over the simmering pot. Eating it communally from a large bol around a shared platter embodies the quintessential Senegalese value of teranga (hospitality).
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