I haven’t been home in quite a while so writing this post is about to make me crave everything on this list! Food is a very big part of culture. This week is all about Fashion and Culture and so today, I decided to share some of my favourite Zambian dishes with you.
Nshima
Nshima is Zambia’s staple food. It is a thick and smooth porridge made out of finely ground maize meal. It can also be made out of cassava flour or millet. Nshima is eaten using the hands and is served along with different types of relish.

Lumanda
I think Lumanda is the best vegetable you could have in Zambia. Lumanda is the only vegetable I actually crave. The scientific name for Lumanda is Hibiscus sadbiriffa. Lumanda can be prepared with pounded groundnuts or with cooking oil. It is usually served with Nshima.
I prefer Lumanda with pounded groundnuts to Lumanda with cooking oil. I think that’s the best way to have it. Unfortunately, I can’t cook Lumanda. Not because I have never been taught but because I have never wanted to learn. Two weeks ago, I was telling my mom that I would never learn how to cook it so that she always has to cook it. She makes the best Lumanda. I will still learn how to because now she insists that I learn.

Vimbombo
This could be either pork trotters or beef hooves. Nshima with Vimbombo is a really good combination. This is not something I eat often so whenever I do, it feels like a treat. A very nice delicacy.

Chikanda
In English, Chikanda is called African Polony because of it’s meat-like consistency. However, Chikanda is purely vegetarian. It is made of orchid tubers which are dried and then pounded and then cooked with pounded groundnuts and chilli.
Chikanda can be eaten with Nshima. I have had it that way only once. Usually, I enjoy Chikanda made by the ladies who sell on the streets or those who go around in markets selling ready cooked Chikanda. Just add a little extra chilli and I am good to go.

Ifinkubala
If you’re up for an adventure, you should try this. Ifinkubala are caterpillars. They are usually sun-dried after being squeezed of any fluids. An alternative to drying them in the sun is smoking them.
When cooking, these are fried and some people add tomato and onions with spices. This is usually eaten with Nshima. I really like ifinkubala even though they make my jaw hurt after chewing for a while.

Vitumbuwa
These are a favourite. Vitumbuwa, also known as fritters, are usually served for breakfast. Flour, sugar, yeast and water are mixed together and the dough that is formed is scooped up in small portions and fried.
Just like Chikanda, I think the best Vitumbuwa you can have is the one you buy at 6am fresh off the pan, sold by the ladies on the road side or at bus stops.

You Can Also Read; Traditions and Weddings: Chilanga Mulilo
There are many other foods you can and should try when you’re in Zambia but these are some of my favourites. Let me know what your favourite Zambian dish is in the comments below. If you’re not from Zambia, would you try any of the food items mentioned above? Leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Wonani Xx
Hey guys! Welcome to day 17 of the Afrobloggers WinterABC 2021. The theme for this week is Fashion and Culture. Today, I decided to give you a cultural experience and recommend 5 traditional foods you must try when you are in Zambia.
Follow the blog to keep up with all the posts in this year’s blogging challenge.
Find all WinterABC 2021 related posts here!
Vitumbuwa sounds delicious! These are all very interesting dishes thank you for sharing them with us. It definitely taught me more about Zambian food 😊
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Oh it really is! I made some two days ago and they were so yum!
My pleasure. Thanks foor reading Xx
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I’d love to try all of these dishes! 😻
VVN
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You should! I think you would love them
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We call nshima sima/ugali in kenya… I now feel Africa we have a lot in common
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And vitumbuwa is vitumbua here
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Which is literally the same thing, minus ‘w’ 😂
Thanks for reading!
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We do have a lot in common. A lot more than we probably know.
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They all look interesting. Not the adventurous type but I think I see myself trying them…
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Oh yes they do. I think you would enjoy them. Thanks for reading!!
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I ate a lot of lumanda in a short period of time and got sick of it. I can’t stand it now.
Does thobwa count as a food? That’s one of my favourite things but I can only drink it after it’s fermented.
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😂 that is sad for you.
Yes. Thobwa does count. Weirdly enough, I can’t stand thobwa, munkoyo or anything in that family 😂
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We call Nshima Posho/Unga/Ugali and in Zimbabwe it’s Sadza. It’s my favorite food.
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How is that a favourite food… 🤣🤣🤣 it’s so bland I propose that we remove it from our diets where did it even come from… I’m still processing how I feel about how where these guys come from they mostly reserve maize usage to as livestock feed and they introduced it to Africa as food and now it’s practically a staple starch across a lot of country….
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I am amused too 😂 I added it to the list just so people can know what it is when I reference it.
You are like my dad. He says there is no need for us to be eating nshima. There are other things to eat 😂
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seriously if we had a case study to see if there was correlation between a country’s level of “unprogressiveness” and how much quantities of maize meal starch was consumed per capita lol we would get some very interesting results…. but does one cause the other, that would be the question
~B
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All I know is if I eat nshima at 1pm, I might as well cancel my whole day because i will not get anything serious done.
There is definitely a correlation 😂
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Haha the end of any progress on plans for the day after a plate of nshima…. Issa conspiracy 🤣🤣🤣
~B
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It’s the only thing that will stay in my stomach for long
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Would definitely like to try the Nshima dish and the Vitumbuwa. 🙂
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I’m pretty sure you would enjoy them. Thanks for reading!
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My pleasure, Wonani. ❤
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Just wow just wow saving this for future travels.
Thanks for sharing Soul sister.
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Yes please!! You are welcome.
I’m looking forward to hosting you in Zambia.
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Awwww Soul sister that would be amazing…..
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Your nshiima and vitumbua is what i have ever eaten cause we have it here in Uganda
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Ah. You should come and try the rest 😂
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Yes i should
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I would like to try chikanda when l travel to Zambia🙈
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You should. I’m so sure you will love it!
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