5 Traditional Foods You Must Taste While in Zambia — Exotic and Different Dishes

Do you know what inswa means? Flying ants. These insects are found soon after rains and are quickly collected to be turned into a tasty dish. The wings are pulled off the ants after which they are deep fried in oil. The crunchy treat is a highly nutritious meal as the insects are rich in protein. Have them as a snack with your favourite dish or as an accompaniment with a dish called nshima.

This is the favourite carbohydrate of Zambians that is used to eat many other accompanying dishes like inswa. Nshima is made from a type of cornmeal powder that is pressed together to form cakes after the flour is boiled. Sometimes cornmeal is substituted for cassava flour, sorghum also called broom corn or even millet. Visit Mukuni Boma, which is one of the Livingstone restaurants for African specials. Listed among the favourites, Avani Victoria Falls Resort is one of the resorts located close to the magnificent Victoria cascades.

This one is another high-protein dish that's also delicious. Infinkubala is caterpillar that's boiled and deep fried after which they are sauteed with tomato and onion to make a delicious meal to be eaten with nshima. Zambian food is not all about testing yourself, there are other popular dishes too made from regular ingredients as listed below.

This one is made from peanuts, chilli, baking soda and orchid tubers, which adds to the exotic vibes of the dish. Chikanda is made to resemble a meatloaf and cooked until all the ingredients combine. It can be enjoyed hot or cold. Other favourite vegetable dishes to try in Zambia are sweet potato leaves known as bondwe, pumpkin leaves called katapa, a form of edible hibiscus referred to as lumanda and impwa, which is a variety of eggplant native to Zambia. For the best of flavours in veg dishes, check out the restaurants at your Zambia resort or you can ask them for recommendations of local favourites to try.

Fish is a popular option in addition to the variety of meats that go into the traditional barbeques. There are several types of fish found around the waterways among which sardines, perch known as buka buka and bream are the favourites. Fish is often fried and tempered with tomato and onion or grilled and boiled; nshima is a favourite accompaniment. Another favourite is ifishashi, which is a fish dish made with peanuts. This dish refers to a mix of pounded peanuts and kale that can be eaten as it is or mixed with fried sardines. In addition to these dishes, there are fruits that are traditional favourites you will enjoy trying. So, go ahead, let out the adventurous foodie in you and enjoy your stay at a top Zambian resort.