Dibi
Senegalese fire-grilled meat, often served with onions and bread
Dibi is a Senegalese dish of fire-grilled meat, usually lamb, seasoned and cut into pieces. It is popular with street vendors in Senegal and Mali, often served with onions, mustard, and bread. Dibi is sometimes accompanied by fried plantains, French fries, or salad, and whole roasted lamb is a special version.
- Dibi is fire-grilled, seasoned meat, usually lamb, cut into pieces
- It is served hot with onions, mustard, and bread
- Dibi is a popular street food in Senegal and Mali
- Whole roasted lamb, called méchoui, is a special version
- Dibiteries are eateries that specialize in dibi
What is Dibi?
Dibi is a dish of meat, most often lamb, that is grilled over fire and then cut into pieces. The meat is seasoned, cooked until crisp outside and tender inside, and served hot. It usually comes with onions—either raw or grilled—plus mustard and bread. Sometimes, sides like fried plantains, French fries, or a simple tomato and lettuce salad are added. The dish is known for its smoky aroma and savory, slightly spicy taste from the seasonings and accompaniments.
Where does Dibi come from?
Dibi comes from Senegal, where it is a common street food and main dish. The word 'dibi' comes from the Soninke language and means barbecue. The practice of grilling meat in this way is widespread in West Africa. In Senegal, the tradition of slow-roasting a whole lamb, called méchoui, was introduced from Mauritania and is considered a delicacy. Dibi is distinct from 'dibi Hausa' or suya, which is a different grilled meat dish with thin slices and a spicy marinade.
How is Dibi made?
To make dibi, cuts of lamb are seasoned with salt and sometimes other spices, then grilled over an open flame or wood fire. The meat is cooked until it develops a crisp exterior and is then chopped into pieces. It is served hot, often with onions—either grilled alongside the meat or added raw at the end. Mustard and bread are typical accompaniments, and peanut oil may be used in the cooking process. Some places offer whole roasted lamb as a special order.
How and when is Dibi eaten?
Dibi is eaten as a main meal, often for lunch or dinner. It is commonly sold by street vendors and in small eateries called dibiteries, especially in Dakar. People usually eat it with their hands, using bread to pick up pieces of meat and onions. Sides such as fried plantains, French fries, or salad may be served. Dibi is a popular everyday food, enjoyed in a casual setting with friends or family.
Kinds of Dibi
While lamb is the most common meat for dibi, other meats can be used. Some dibiteries offer whole roasted lamb, known as méchoui, which is slow-cooked and reserved for special occasions. Dibi should not be confused with dibi Hausa or suya, which uses thinly sliced meat and a spicy marinade. The style of grilling and the choice of sides can vary between vendors and regions.
What Dibi means
Dibi is a staple of Senegalese street food culture and is also found in Mali. Dibiteries, the eateries specializing in dibi, are often run by people from different backgrounds, including the Hausa of Nigeria. The dish is part of daily life in cities like Dakar and is enjoyed by people from various walks of life. Ordering a whole lamb is seen as a treat for gatherings or celebrations.
Questions people ask about Dibi
What is dibi made of?
Dibi is made from meat, most often lamb, that is seasoned and grilled over fire. It is served with onions, mustard, and bread, and sometimes comes with sides like fried plantains or salad.
Where does dibi come from?
Dibi comes from Senegal, where it is a popular street food and main dish. It is also commonly found in Mali.
How is dibi different from suya or dibi Hausa?
Dibi is made with larger pieces of meat that are not marinated in kankankan spice and not sliced thinly, unlike suya or dibi Hausa, which uses thin, spicy marinated meat.
How is dibi served and eaten?
Dibi is served hot, often with grilled or raw onions, mustard, and bread. It is usually eaten with the hands, and sometimes comes with sides like fried plantains or French fries.
What is a dibiterie?
A dibiterie is an eatery or street vendor that specializes in making and selling dibi, especially in Senegal's cities.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Dibi (food)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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