Ringo Goes to Africa: Zambian Food

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May 16, 2005

Zambian Food

Ok, so I've had a lot of questions about the food that I've been eating and what the traditional fare is like and the such. Let me take this opportunity to explain, albeit limited, my experience with Zambian food. First and foremost I have to say that I LOVE the food. Then again, as my friend Rue would say, I'll eat anything, so I'm probably not the best judge. In fact, I have yet to discover even one Zambian dish that I don't like. Okay, so maize is the staple food of all of Zambia. Everyone in the villages has thier own field of miaze that they harvest twice a year. From what I can tell, it is like feed corn in the US. When harvested green the common practice is to boil or roast it and eat it off the cob. Not as tasty as sweet corn, but yummy nonetheless. Most often, however, the maize is left in the field until it is hard and brown. Then it is harvested for the grinding and made into melie meal (a fine maize powder not unlike cornmeal). From there they make it into the food item that they have with EVERY meal... nshima (in-she-ma). Water is boiled, mealie meal is added (and stirred in until your arm feels like it is going to fall off) until it becomes a thick paste. Then it is scooped out in lumps. With nshima you usually have two relishes... one vegetable and a protien. The most common vegetables are rape and cabbage. Greens are shredded and then cooked with tomatoes and onions in saladie (cooking oil). They are served dripping with oil and salt is added to taste. Other common veggies are: chard, okra, green beans, mushrooms, and maybe even spinach. In the protien department again everything is cooked in a lot of saladie with tomatoes and onions for flavor. Expensive, but most common is chicken. Other options include: beef, kapenta (dried minnow-like fish), buga fish, sausage, soya pieces (think wheat glutin), caterpillars, or termites. The last two of these are not common except when in-season. You take a couple lumps of nshima, then you pick off a chunk of it, ball it in your hand (right hand only) and scoop the relishes into your mouth using the nshima. It is coustomary to leave a bit of food on your plate to signify that you have been satisfied and that you are finished eating. For breakfast popular foods include: jungle oats (just like Quaker), sweet potatoes (boiled), bread, or poridge (nshima not exactly made into the paste but a cream-of-wheat consistency with added ground-nut powder).
SO! That's what I eat most often. Of course when I'm cooking for myself I just make regular western food, but I eat with Vena a lot and sometimes go to a Zambian food restaurant. Let me know via comments what other items of Zambian life you'd like to hear the most about and my postings will be info-packed.
Peace.
RINGO

Posted by ringo at May 16, 2005 10:37 AM

Comments

I can't wait to try all the authentic Zambian foods. I'm sure you have become as good of a cook with Zambian food as you are with American food! The only thing I don't think I could bring myself to eat are the termites...yuck! I'm glad to hear you are eating well, settled into your home, have a feline family, and have gotten to work. Keep taking good care of yourself and stay safe! Love and miss ya, Bev

Posted by: Bev at May 16, 2005 3:28 PM

I gotta tell you, that food doesn't sound the best! But unlike you- I don't eat everything! Glad you are doing so well over there- miss you so much! Pics on way!

Posted by: Heidi at May 19, 2005 5:30 PM

Hey there Ringo Dingo...I've been keeping up with your blog and silently observing. Sounds like things are fun and interesting for you. Maybe I missed something, I still don't quite understand what happened with the burn thing!! Things here in Michigan are good...crazy busy, but good. Love you bunches!!

Posted by: Alex at May 20, 2005 2:18 AM

I enjoyed your food comments. I hope those cats are disease-free. Yeah...I'm a worry wart! My son was bitten by a Greek Island cat on his honeymoon and was sick and feverish for a week. His poor bride! Just tell us about anything Zambian that is different from here. I still want to know what a dollar would buy. Do they have movie theaters? But especially, tell us about your work. I sent a care package last week -- hope it arrives and in toto.

Posted by: Joyce at May 20, 2005 3:20 AM