How to rock Zambian food tourist-style

People travel for different reasons. Some do it for the sake of quenching gastronomic desires. This is among my favorite things to do. Some foodies are passionate travelers who don’t limit themselves. They seek out many cuisines.

Foodies embark on a never-ending mission to please their cravings. They have no fear of searching out unusual ingredients and advanced cooking methods. They try foods with old-fashioned recipes passed down through generations. Food holds the ability to exceed language barriers. It also fosters connections between individuals from different backgrounds.

You will get to sample a wide variety of cuisines when you travel to most of the Southern African countries. You will find all sorts of foods in the lively street food vendors and bustling markets. For example, you can savor a savory braai in South Africa. Their take on barbecue. Imagine tender meats marinated in a mixture of spices! They’re cooked well thanks to skillful grilling. This would go well with some delicious side dishes.

Namibia as another example, is a country that has distinct food customs. You may get a taste of its rich traditional foods like potjiekos. This is a slow-cooked stew cooked in a cast-iron pot. Plus, you could have biltong, a sort of dried and cured meat. Most southern African countries offer unique tastes. These will offer experience that will please even the pickiest eater.

Venturing further north to Zambia, don’t miss the chance to try nshima. This is a staple food made from maize meal. This thick and filling dish is often paired with relishes called ndiyo. As a tourist in Zambia, take your food journey to another level. There is no time for that waitress to explain to you what you will be eating. This article will do that for you.

Hygiene is very important. I must add that some restaurants should up their game in this area. Other restaurants are a no-go area because of this. I went to a local food restaurant called Harriet’s. This restaurant is in the tourist capital of the country. It has tourists frequenting it. Blend in with us by being a step ahead. Know those local dishes to enhance your experience of a different culture.

Some of these local restaurants are indoors. Most of these kinds of restaurants also have outdoor settings. This is ideal in most seasons except in the wet and cold seasons. As you have your local meal, you can enjoy street and city views.

What is Zambia’s staple food?

Zambia’s staple food is nshima. This is like potatoes. The difference is that mashed potatoes are on the fluffy side. Some Zambians, especially our male folk may amaze you with their love for nshima. I met these tourists who commented on the same. They felt their Zambian friends they made whilst staying here idolize this nshima. I had to tell them why it is so.

Most men here who have physical jobs need to fill up their stomachs well. Nshima fills up your stomach so that you don’t have to think of other meals for many hours. These men mock foods like pasta to be ‘bird food’ that won’t do wonders for your tummy.

This nshima is not eaten how you would mashed potatoes. I have had mashed potatoes with nothing else. The taste is okay because of spice, margarine, or butter. You cannot have nshima on its own. It tastes flat. Nshima goes with relishes like fish, meats, and veggies.

What accompaniments go with nshima?

When it comes to accompaniments, it is up to what you would want. Real foodies are adventurous so try fighting the picky side of you. You can have nshima with fish which is fresh or what you call dry. ‘Dry’ because of the process it goes through. This is something like smoked chicken. Some love their fish that way. This means you buy the dried fish but still boil it after. The most common fish we have is bream. It is usually fried and some like it in gravy. Some want the gravy prepared on its own.

You could also have nshima with T-bone, beef, or chicken stew. There are two types of chickens. The first is the one you would find in a supermarket or butchery. The other type called village chicken has tougher flesh. These are chickens reared by individuals. They eat anything they find like insects, lizards, or fruits. They aren’t reared in a professional way. What is funny is some people prefer a lizard-eating chicken. They claim it is tastier. This is the one you see below. Meat and chicken stews are common even in other countries. In other countries expect to have them with rice or potatoes. What may not be common is a stew that has a combination of chicken feet, liver, gizzards, and intestines. I can’t say I have had this stew. From observations, people love it! I have had chicken livers not as a stew.

I have mine roasted with spices, green pepper, and onions. I hate imagining the intestines of a chicken boiled. If something grosses me out, I would rather have it roasted. I know that being an adventurous foodie means ditching the act of being picky. But I have my limits. Intestines are intestines. They are the passage for poop. If not washed well, then you ate poop.

We have what you call kapenta which is like tiny sardines in tomato and onion sauce. If you wanna blend in with us, call it kapenta. Get to that local food restaurant and ask for nshima with kapenta and veggies of your choice. When it comes to kapenta, expect a seafood aroma. If you don’t like the smell of seafood, you may not like kapenta.

And the veggies?

There is a large variety of veggies to go with your nshima and meats. Zambians love meat! I have met very few vegetarians here. The vegetables we have are rape, impwa, ifisashi, and cabbage (which tends to have fewer greens and I don’t like that). Okra is on the list. It is slimy but my favorite.

There is a liking for some vegetables cooked in peanut butter sauce. This is what I listed as ifisashi. Without peanut butter, one can use pounded groundnuts. This is powder-like instead of paste-like.

How do I eat this nshima? It’s so sticky.

It’s always funny to watch non-locals eat nshima. The struggle is real! Lol! And yes, you can use a fork and knife. The truth is it is not meant to be that way. Hygiene first. Wash thy hands in a thorough way. Pinch that big lump of nshima so that you have a smaller piece. Make that piece into a round shape. Use thy thumb to make a small depression in your ball of nshima. That small depression scoops the accompaniment. Then, enjoy the taste of your food. Bon appetit!

How much?

Prices of local foods are affordable. What is more expensive is nshima with T-bone or fish. This is about 3 to 4 dollars. The rest of the restaurant’s food is below that price range. Vegetarians pay less than this. Consider taking on this journey of local Zambian food.