Top 3 Mauritanian Meat Dishes

This exotic Mauritanian dish is prepared with an unusual combination of flavors and ingredients. Thinly sliced steak is fried in hot oil together with garlic, black pepper, bell peppers, chiles, Tabasco sauce, and coarsely shredded coconut. The dish is finished by adding coconut water, soy sauce, and bouillon cubes into the pan, then stirring it all over low heat until the sauce is smooth and thickens to a desired consistency. It is recommended to serve this flavorful dish with steamed white rice on the side, acting as a palate cleanser.Expand

Leksour is a traditional lamb stew originating from northern Mauritania, and it's always served over millet pancakes. The stew is made with pieces of lamb, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers, while the pancakes are made with a combination of wheat flour, millet flour, and salt. When served, the pancakes are arranged on a platter and the stew is spooned over them while still warm. The dish is typically consumed by rolling up the stew in the pancakes and eating it with your right hand.Expand

Bonava is a traditional stew originating from Mauritania. It's made with lamb and potatoes as the main ingredients. Other ingredients include thinly sliced onions, bay leaves, white vinegar, peanut oil, and chili powder (optionally) for added spiciness. The stew is simmered until the potatoes and the meat become tender and the sauce develops a thick consistency. In the Mauritanian desert, the Nomads still sometimes prepare bonava in the sand. It's recommended to serve the stew piping hot with flatbreads on the side.Expand