Zambian delicacies

Recently, I was asked to help provide ongoing help at a local orphanage. I accepted and now the kids and I  (and sometimes Erik if he can get away from the farm) drive about 45 minutes to see how things are going at the orphanage. It has been interesting for me to take over the purchasing of groceries, offer accountability, learn more about Zambian food preparation, get to know the "mothers" at the orphanage and most of all to see and play with the children. I have also begun to dive in to long tomes about Zambian standards for residential facilities. I won't bore you with that, but I thought you might find the food aspect interesting.

pre-measuring meals to ensure correct serving size

Larissa measuring out dried fish portions

These small dried fish are called kapenta. They are a staple here. They are extremely odoriferous.

measuring out rice

mielie meal. Most Zambians eat this ground maize at every meal. It is made thinner at breakfast as porridge. With less water added, it is used as utensil to scoop up other food. In this form it is called nshima. Zambians tell me nshima makes children very happy.

dried beans

we ended up with quite the assembly line

This frozen fish is called buka buka fish. Children here save the eyeball for last. Apparently it's the best part.

Other foods enjoyed here year round are tomatoes, ground nuts (peanuts), lots of cabbage, rape (a green leafy vegetable), bananas, cassava roots, potatoes, watermelons, okra, roasted field corn and carrots. We have seen young Zambians holding large rodents along roadsides to sell. We have yet to discover what they are exactly. Seasonal foods are mangoes, African bush oranges, avacadoes, other bush fruits (these are very different from anything I have ever tasted and I can't remember their names in Bemba), caterpillars, and termites to name a few.

Not too long ago we had the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Zambian meal. The pictures aren't great, but here is Erik's plateful.

Starting in the upper left, going clockwise...roasted cassava root, chicken, Zambian eggplant, a few groundnuts, the black things are caterpillars (which taste just like you would expect a fried caterpillar to taste...crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside...mmm) more chicken and nshima.

Bon Appetit!