Chicken Yassa: The Senegalese Onion Marinade — Recipe and Origin

What is yassa?

Yassa is a dish made with chicken (or fish) marinated in a mixture of lemon juice, onions, mustard and spices, then grilled and simmered in its caramelised marinade. It's one of the best-known and most loved Senegalese dishes, both in Senegal and in France and across the African diaspora.

The most common version is chicken yassa, but there's also fish yassa (thiof or grouper) and even a vegetable yassa for vegetarians. All share the same tangy, fragrant base that makes yassa so recognisable.

Origin: Casamance, the birthplace of yassa

Yassa originates from Casamance, a region in southern Senegal. It's traditionally associated with the Diola (or Jola) people. Casamance is known for its distinctive cuisine, shaped by its lush forests, Atlantic coastline and cassava, rice and peanut crops.

The word yassa comes from the Diola language. The dish spread throughout Senegal and was adopted in the cuisines of Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali. Today, it's one of the ambassadors of African cuisine around the world.

The marinade: the secret of yassa

The quality of a yassa rests entirely on its marinade. Ideal proportions: the juice of 3 lemons per 1kg of chicken, 3-4 finely sliced onions, 2 tablespoons of mustard, garlic, chilli to taste and salt. The chicken should marinate for at least 4 hours (ideally overnight) so the flavours fully penetrate the meat.

The key step: caramelising the onions

After grilling the chicken (preferably on a barbecue or under the oven grill), the onions from the marinade are cooked over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes until completely soft, translucent and lightly caramelised. This step is crucial: it's what gives yassa its depth of flavour.

Our yassa recipes

Chicken yassa and fish yassa recipes

Yassa Poulet — La Marinade Sénégalaise à l'Oignon

90 min

Spices and condiments for your yassa

To make an authentic yassa, spice quality makes all the difference. Find our African spice blends to elevate your marinade.

Spices for African cooking

Épices Camerounaises Levl Origin's - Mélange Grillade 100g

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