Zambian Food and Cuisine

Zambian Food

Administrator — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:24:33 GMT

Current Revision posted to Zambian Food and Cuisine by Administrator on 3/5/2009 9:24:33 PM

The staple food in Zambia is Nshima. Maize or corn is ground and then boiled to make a thick mash. (See our guide to How to Cook Nshima for more information on preparing nshima at home.)

Other carbohydrate meals include rice, potatoes, cassava (tapioca) and yam. Side dishes include vegetables, fish (Kapenta, Bream, Nile Perch, Tiger fish) and other meat products such as lamb or goat-meat, chicken and beef. Other dishes commonly prepared include sorghum, beans, millet, okra and pumpkins.

Zambia is blessed with an abundant supply of fruits. Often, you will find people enjoying papaya or paw-paw, mango, lemon, bananas, groundnuts and sugarcane.

Locally brewed Chibuku (Shake-Shake) is fairly popular amongst the people, although commercially brewed beers such as Rhino, Mosi, Castle lager are more dominant.

How to cook Nshima

Administrator — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:20:38 GMT

Current Revision posted to Zambian Food and Cuisine by Administrator on 3/5/2009 9:20:38 PM

How to cook Nshima

Nshima

Ingredients:

1 cup cold water
3 cups hot water
2 to 3 cups corn meal

Preparation:

Boil water in a saucepan. Make a paste using some of the meal with the cup of cold water. Add the paste to hot water. Stir with a wooden spoon until thickened like porridge. Cover the saucepan and simmer for some time (about 15 minutes). Lower the heat a little. Remove the lid and gradually add corn meal, stirring constantly and flattening any lumps that may form. Continue to add meal and stir until nshima thickens to the desired consistency (some people like it thin, and others prefer it thick). Cover and reduce heat to very low. Leave for a few minutes to allow further cooking. Stir the nshima once again and serve in a slightly wet serving dish. Cover to keep it warm. Serve with meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables.

Nshima

Administrator — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:53:38 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Zambian Food and Cuisine by Administrator on 11/7/2008 7:53:38 AM

Ingredients:

1 cup cold water
3 cups hot water
2 to 3 cups corn meal

Preparation:

Ifisashi

Administrator — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:52:10 GMT

Current Revision posted to Zambian Food and Cuisine by Administrator on 11/7/2008 7:52:10 AM

Ingredients:

2 bunches fresh collard greens (or spinach), washed and chopped
250 ml raw peanuts, ground
Salt to taste
1 onion, sliced
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
Water

Preparation:

In a medium-sized saucepan, boil the onion and tomatoes with the ground peanuts, adding salt to taste and water as needed. After a few minutes, add chopped greens. Stirring occasionally, continue cooking until the peanuts are soft and the mixture has become a fairly thick buttery sauce (15-20 minutes). Serve hot or cold.