Senegalese Thieboudienne-Inspired Tomato Rice with Fish and Vegetables

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

A vibrant one-pot rice dish inspired by Senegal’s national dish Thieboudienne, featuring tomato-simmered rice with tender fish and mixed vegetables. This African-inspired rice and grain recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs long-grain rice, rinsed, tomato paste, tomatoes, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb firm white fish fillets, cut into chunks
• 2 cups long-grain rice, rinsed
• 4 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 large tomatoes, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 medium eggplant, cubed
• 2 cups cabbage, chopped
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp hot chili flakes (optional)

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 4 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add 1 large chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Stir in 4 tbsp tomato paste, 2 chopped large tomatoes, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp hot chili flakes if using. Cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes break down and sauce thickens.
3. Step 3: Add 2 cups rinsed long-grain rice and stir to coat grains with tomato sauce for 2 minutes.
4. Step 4: Pour in 4 cups water and add 1 bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Step 5: Nestle 1 lb firm white fish chunks, 2 peeled and chunked carrots, 1 medium cubed eggplant, and 2 cups chopped cabbage on top of the rice. Cover and cook for an additional 15 minutes until rice is tender, fish is cooked through, and vegetables are soft.
6. Step 6: Remove bay leaf, fluff rice gently with a fork, and serve hot.