In brief
- Dibi: lamb or mutton grilled over wood fire, served with an onion and mustard sauce
- Origin: Senegal, street food from Dakar's dibiteries
- Key ingredients: shoulder or leg of mutton, onions, strong mustard, oil, salt, pepper
- A street dish shared among friends, served with bread and sometimes a little chilli
Origins and cultural history of dibi
The word dibi comes from Soninke and means barbecue; it gave its name to this grilled meat dish, a pillar of Senegalese street food, also eaten in Mali. The meat, most often lamb or mutton, is cooked over a wood fire or on a grill, then served with raw or grilled onions, mustard and bread.
In Dakar, dibi is enjoyed in small specialised stalls called dibiteries, many of which are run by members of the Hausa community, originally from Nigeria. In these stalls, the meat is displayed whole, on the bone, to prove its freshness before being cut and grilled in front of the customer.
What are the key ingredients of dibi
Dibi owes its reputation as much to cooking over fire as to its onion and mustard sauce, prepared separately and served with the grilled meat.
- shoulder or leg of mutton (or lamb)
- onions
- strong mustard
- vegetable oil
- chilli, to taste
- salt and pepper
What to know about dibi
Dibi is lamb or mutton grilled over a wood fire, a pillar of Senegalese street food. In the dibiteries of Dakar, the meat is displayed whole, on the bone, then cut up and grilled in front of the customer. It is served with onions mixed with strong mustard, bread and, to taste, a little chili. The word dibi comes from Soninke and means barbecue.
Frequently asked questions about dibi
Is dibi made only with mutton?
Traditionally, yes: lamb or mutton dominates in Senegalese dibiteries. Some cooks also use beef. What defines dibi above all is the cooking over fire and the onion and mustard sauce served with the meat.
What makes the dibi sauce?
Finely sliced onions mixed with strong mustard, a little oil and, to taste, chilli. This sauce, prepared separately and served with the grilled meat, is considered the element that makes a true dibi.
Where to find the ingredients for dibi in France?
NKOSI sells the mustard and the dried chilli for this recipe on nkosiagro.com and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
