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“The Wedding Pot”(Tchep) 

Every family in our village has its own version of TChep, but in ours, the recipe belongs to my grandmother, Mariama. She always said “Le TChep, c’est plus qu’un repas – c’est une histoire.” It means “TChep is more than a meal – it’s a story.”

Whenever a wedding took place, my grandmother became the quiet queen of the kitchen. The morning would begin before sunrise, with the rhythmic sound of pounding spices and the scent of garlic, onion, and tomato filling the courtyard. She believed the success of the marriage began in the pot — if the flavors blended in harmony, so would the couple’s hearts.

Recipe: Mariama’s Wedding TChep

Ingredients (for 6–8 people):

• 3 cups broken jasmine or parboiled rice
• 2 medium fish (snapper or grouper), cleaned and cut in halves
• 3 large tomatoes (grated or pureed)
• 2 onions (chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (mashed)
• 2 carrots, 1 small cabbage, 1 cassava, and 1 eggplant (cut in chunks)
• 1 hot pepper
• 1 bunch parsley
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried fish powder or shrimp powder 
• 1 cube bouillon 
• ½ cup peanut or vegetable oil
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Stuff the fish with a paste made from garlic, parsley, pepper, and salt.
2. Heat oil in a large pot, fry the fish until golden, and remove them.
3. In the same oil, sauté onions, add tomatoes and tomato paste, and cook until thick.
4. Add 6 cups of water, vegetables, and spices. Simmer until vegetables are tender.
5. Remove the vegetables and fish; add washed rice to the broth.
6. Cook the rice slowly, letting it absorb all the color and flavor.
7. Return the fish and vegetables on top to finish steaming together.

When the meal was ready, everyone gathered around one big bowl. The bride and groom took the first bite together — a symbol that they would share everything life offered: the spice, the warmth, the sweetness.

Now, whenever I prepare TChep, I hear my grandmother’s laughter echo in the kitchen. I feel the same rhythm of her wooden spoon stirring the pot, carrying not just flavor but love, patience, and unity — the essence of our family and culture.