Nshima or nsima is a cornmeal product and a staple food in Zambia and Malawi. Cornmeal is Flour ground from dried corn, and is a common Staple food. A staple food is a Food that forms the basis of a Traditional diet. The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. The Republic of Malawi (məˈlɑːwi or; formerly Nyasaland) is in southern Africa. It is made from ground maize (corn) flour known locally as mielie-meal. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Flour is a powder made of Cereal grains It is the key ingredient of Bread, which is a staple food in many countries and therefore the availability In South Africa, Zimbabwe Malawi and many other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, a Staple food made from either stamped or ground Maize ( mielies Nshima is very similar to ugali of East Africa, sadza of Zimbabwe, pap (food) of South Africa and fufu of West Africa. Ugali (also sometimes called sima or posho) is a Cornmeal product and a staple Starch component of many African meals especially Sadza is the Shona language name for a cooked pulverized grain meal that is the Staple food in Zimbabwe. See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election Pap ( a traditional Porridge made from Mielie-meal (ground Maize or other grain is a Staple food of the Bantu inhabitants of The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Fufu, variants include foofoo, foufou, foutou or fu fu, is a Staple food of West and Central Africa.
Contents |
History
Maize was introduced to Africa from the Americas between 16th and 17th century. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar Prior to this, sorghum and millet were the principal cereals in most of Sub-Saharan Africa. Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, some of which are raised for grain and many of which are used as Fodder plants either cultivated or as part The millets are a group of small- Seeded Species of Cereal crops or grains widely grown around the world for Food and Fodder Sub-Saharan Africa is a geographical term used to describe the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara, or those African countries Maize was readily accepted by African farmers as its cultivation was very similar to that of sorghum but with significantly higher yields. Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the Soil by Ploughing ripping or turning it Eventually maize displaced sorghum as the primary cereal in all but the drier regions. Nshima is still made from sorghum flour though it is quite uncommon to encounter such. Cassava, which was also introduced from the Americas, can also be used to make nshima, either exclusively or mixed with maize flour, and is considered a delicacy by some. The cassava, yuca, manioc, or mandioca ( Manihot esculenta) is a woody Shrub of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family native
Preparation
The maize flour is first boiled with water into porridge and then skillfully 'paddled', not stirred, to create a thick paste with the addition of more flour. Porridge, or porage, is a simple dish made by boiling Oats (normally crushed oats occasionally Oatmeal) or another cereal in Water Zambians consider cooking nshima an art form with the aim of achieving the correct texture and taste. Malawians look at the whole process from cooking to eating as an art and it proves difficult for all first timers to eat nsima.
The meal
Nshima is almost always eaten with two side dishes, known as "relishes": a protein source, usually meat, poultry, fish or groundnuts (peanuts); and a vegetable, often rapeseed, chibwabwa (pumpkin leaves) or cabbage. A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the Entrée or Main course at a Meal Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Poultry is the category of Domesticated Birds which some humans keep for the purpose of collecting their eggs, or kill for their Meat and/or Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two The peanut, or Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the Legume family Fabaceae native to South America, Mexico The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however Rapeseed ( Brassica napus) also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rapaseed and (in the case of one particular group of Pumpkin is a Gourd -like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds The cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var capitata) is a leafy garden plant of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae used as a The sides are known as Ndiwo or Umunani in the local languages.
Eating customs and etiquette
Traditionally diners sit around a table or on the floor surrounding the meal. The diners have to wash their hands as nshima is eaten with bare hands. This is done with a bowl of water. Alternatively the host or one of the younger people present pours water from a pitcher over the hands of the elders or guests into a receptacle bowl. Eating is done by taking a small lump into ones palm, rolling it into ball and dipping it into the relish. An indentation in the nshima ball can be made to help scoop the relish or gravy. Westerners who are unaccustomed to eating with bare hands are free to use a knife and fork. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings As with many African traditions, age is very important. The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem acc of traditio which means "a giving up delivering up surrendering" and is used in a number of Washing before the meal, eating and washing after the meal generally starts with the oldest person, followed by everyone else in turn by age.
Importance of nshima
Many Zambians take their nshima very seriously with some considering any meal without it a mere snack. It is eaten by all segments of the population from the low income to the elite. Many Westerners, however, tend to find it bland and tasteless.
Nshima is relatively cheap and affordable for most of the population, although occasionally prices have risen due to shortages, contributing to economic and political instability. An economy is the realized social system of production exchange distribution and consumption of goods and services of a country or other area Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions
See also
External links
GRITS is a Christian hip hop group from Nashville, Tennessee. Cornmeal is Flour ground from dried corn, and is a common Staple food. Mămăligă (/məmə'ligə/ Mămăligă Мамалыга Mamałyga Cornmeal mush is a dish made out of yellow Maize traditional for Romania and Polenta is a dish made from boiled Cornmeal. Although the word is borrowed into English from Italian, the dish (under various names is popular in Ugali (also sometimes called sima or posho) is a Cornmeal product and a staple Starch component of many African meals especiallyDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic