Best Zambian Foods
This Zambian snack is prepared with a tuber of chikanda orchids. The small-sized tubers are dried and pounded, and then combined with a thick mixture of peanuts and dry chili peppers. Chikanda is often referred to as African polony, because of its meat-like consistency.
In the past, the dish was traditionally associated with the Bemba tribe in north-east Zambia, but nowadays it is consumed throughout the country. Chikanda is usually served sliced and can be enjoyed as a snack, dessert, or an accompaniment to nshima, a traditional Zambian maize porridge.
This dish originates from land-locked Zambia, where animals such as gazelles freely roam on the vast land, so it is not a surprise that a curry made with good-quality gazelle meat is quite popular in the country. The dish is made with gazelle rump steak, onions, garlic, chilis, sliced plantains, coconut milk, tomato paste, and flavorings such as cumin, cardamom, and curry powder.
The ingredients are slowly simmered until the desired consistency is achieved. The dish is then served hot, preferably on a bed of white rice.
Nshima is a staple food in Zambia – a very thick and smooth swallow made from ground maize. It is quite similar to the Kenyan ugali and the Zimbabwean sadza. Nshima is always consumed with soups, sauces, or stews, known as ndiwo in Zambia.
The most common ndiwo dishes in the country are chibwabwa and ifisashi. Smaller pieces of nshima are typically torn by hand, and nshima is then used to scoop up the ndiwo dishes.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Tongabezi chicken curry is a traditional chicken stew originating from Zambia. Although there are a few recipes, the curry is usually made with a combination of chicken, sweet potatoes, onions, tomatoes, garlic, lemongrass, hot peppers, stock, yogurt, ginger, coriander, and curry powder.
The onions, ginger, and garlic are sautéed in oil until soft. Chicken pieces are added to the pan and cooked until done. Chopped tomatoes, lemongrass, curry powder, and stock are stirred in, and the curry is simmered for a few minutes. The sweet potatoes are boiled, sliced, fried in oil, and then served as an accompaniment to the curry, along with rice and yogurt.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Curry
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Mbeva, also known as roasted field mice, is a traditional snack in some parts of Africa, particularly in Zambia, Malawi, and some other Southern African countries. This snack is considered a delicacy in certain regions and is often enjoyed as a street food.
In rural regions of Southern Africa, roasted field mice, known as mbeva, are prepared by first catching the mice, cleaning them thoroughly, and then roasting them over an open fire until crispy. They are typically consumed whole and often enjoyed as a snack or part of a meal.
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