Side, Snack, Appetizer

Beans

A bean is the seed of one of several genera of the flowering plant family fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. they can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes throughout the world.

Main

Beef

Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (bos taurus). in prehistoric times, humans hunted aurochs and later domesticated them. since that time, numerous breeds of cattle have been bred specifically for the quality or quantity of their meat. today, beef is the third most widely consumed meat in the world, after pork and poultry. as of 2018, the united states, brazil, and china were the largest producers of beef. beef can be prepared in various ways; cuts are often used for steak, which can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness, while trimmings are often ground or minced, as found in most hamburgers. beef contains protein, iron, and vitamin b12. along with other kinds of red meat, high consumption is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and coronary heart disease, especially when processed. beef has a high environmental impact, being a primary driver of deforestation with the highest greenhouse gas emissions of any agricultural product.

Main

Bunny chow

Bunny chow, often referred to simply as a bunny, is a south african fast food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry. it originated among indian south africans of durban. throughout various south african communities one can find different versions of the bunny chow, which uses only a quarter loaf of bread and depending on which part of the country you are in, is sometimes called a scambane, kota ("quarter") or shibobo; it is a name that it shares with sphatlho, a south african dish that evolved from the bunny chow.

Drink

Carlsberg

Carlsberg a/s (; danish: [ˈkʰɑˀlsˌpɛɐ̯ˀ]) is a danish multinational brewer. founded in 1847 by j. c. jacobsen, the company's headquarters is in copenhagen, denmark. since jacobsen's death in 1887, the majority owner of the company has been the carlsberg foundation. the company's flagship brand is carlsberg (named after jacobsen's son carl). other brands include tuborg, kronenbourg, somersby cider, neptun, russia's best-selling beer baltika, belgian grimbergen, fix, one of greece's oldest brands and more than 500 local beers. the company employs around 41,000 people, primarily in western europe, russia and asia.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Carrot

The carrot (daucus carota subsp. sativus) is a root vegetable, typically orange in color, though purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild carrot, daucus carota, native to europe and southwestern asia. the plant probably originated in persia and was originally cultivated for its leaves and seeds. the most commonly eaten part of the plant is the taproot, although the stems and leaves are also eaten. the domestic carrot has been selectively bred for its enlarged, more palatable, less woody-textured taproot. the carrot is a biennial plant in the umbellifer family, apiaceae. at first, it grows a rosette of leaves while building up the enlarged taproot. fast-growing cultivars mature within three months (90 days) of sowing the seed, while slower-maturing cultivars need a month longer (120 days). the roots contain high quantities of alpha- and beta-carotene, and are a good source of vitamin a, vitamin k, and vitamin b6. the united nations food and agriculture organization (fao) reports that world production of carrots and turnips (these plants are combined by the fao) for 2018 was 40 million tonnes, with 45% of the world total grown in china. carrots are commonly consumed raw or cooked in various cuisines.

Main

Chambo

Oreochromis is a large genus of oreochromine cichlids, fishes endemic to africa and the middle east. a few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range and are important in aquaculture. many others have very small ranges; some are seriously threatened, and o. ismailiaensis and o. lidole possibly are extinct. although oreochromis primarily are freshwater fish of rivers, lakes and similar habitats, several species can also thrive in brackish waters and some even survive in hypersaline conditions with a salinity that far surpasses that of seawater. in addition to overfishing and habitat loss, some of the more localized species are threatened by the introduction of other, more widespread oreochromis species into their ranges. this is because they—in addition to competing for the local resources—often are able to hybridize.oreochromis are fairly robust fish, and medium–small to very large ciclids that can reach up to 9.4–61 cm (3.7–24.0 in) in total length depending on the exact species.

Drink

Chibuku

Chibuku is a commercial sorghum beer based on the traditional umqombothi home made african beers, the main grains used are malted sorghum and maize but may also contain millet.

Main

Chicken

The chicken (gallus domesticus) is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the ceylon junglefowl that are originally from southeastern asia. rooster or cock is a term for an adult male bird, and a younger male may be called a cockerel. a male that has been castrated is a capon. an adult female bird is called a hen and a sexually immature female is called a pullet. originally raised for cockfighting or for special ceremonies, chickens were not kept for food until the hellenistic period (4th–2nd centuries bc). humans now keep chickens primarily as a source of food (consuming both their meat and eggs) and as pets. chickens are one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, with a total population of 23.7 billion as of 2018, up from more than 19 billion in 2011. there are more chickens in the world than any other bird. there are numerous cultural references to chickens – in myth, folklore and religion, and in language and literature. genetic studies have pointed to multiple maternal origins in south asia, southeast asia, and east asia, but the clade found in the americas, europe, the middle east and africa originated from the indian subcontinent. from ancient india, the chicken spread to lydia in western asia minor, and to greece by the 5th century bc. fowl have been known in egypt since the mid-15th century bc, with the "bird that gives birth every day" having come from the land between syria and shinar, babylonia, according to the annals of thutmose iii.

Main

Chicken curry

Chicken curry or curry chicken is a dish originating from the indian subcontinent. it is common in the indian subcontinent, southeast asia, great britain, and the caribbean. a typical curry from the indian subcontinent consists of chicken stewed in an onion- and tomato-based sauce, flavoured with ginger, garlic, tomato puree, chilli peppers and a variety of spices, often including turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cardamom. outside of south asia, chicken curry is often made with a pre-made spice mixture known as curry powder.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Chippies

Potato wedges are irregular wedge-shaped slices of potato, often large and unpeeled, that are either baked or fried. they are sold at diners and fast food restaurants. in australia, potato wedges are a common bar food, that are almost always served with some kind of sauce. one may use sour cream, sweet chilli sauce, ketchup, or some combination of these. they are usually seasoned with a variety of spices, commonly paprika, salt and pepper.

Drink

Coffee

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, the seeds of berries from certain flowering plants in the coffea genus. from the coffee fruit, the seeds are separated to produce a stable, raw product: unroasted green coffee. the seeds are then roasted, a process which transforms them into a consumable product: roasted coffee, which is ground into fine particles that are typically steeped in hot water before being filtered out, producing a cup of coffee. coffee is darkly colored, bitter, slightly acidic and has a stimulating effect in humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. it is one of the most popular drinks in the world and can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways (e.g., espresso, french press, caffè latte, or already-brewed canned coffee). it is usually served hot, although chilled or iced coffee is common. sugar, sugar substitutes, milk or cream are often used to lessen the bitter taste or enhance the flavor. it may be served with coffee cake or another sweet dessert, like doughnuts. a commercial establishment that sells prepared coffee beverages is known as a coffeehouse or coffee shop (not to be confused with dutch coffeeshops selling cannabis). clinical research indicates that moderate coffee consumption is benign or mildly beneficial as a stimulant in healthy adults, with continuing research on whether long-term consumption has positive or negative effects.though coffee is now a global commodity, it has a long history tied closely to food traditions around the red sea. the earliest credible evidence of the drinking of coffee in the form of the modern beverage appears in modern-day yemen from the mid-15th century in sufi shrines, where coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed in a manner similar to current methods. the yemenis procured the coffee beans from the ethiopian highlands via coastal somali intermediaries and began cultivation. by the 16th century, the drink had reached the rest of the middle east and north africa, later spreading to europe. in the 20th century, coffee became a much more global commodity, creating different coffee cultures around the world. the two most commonly grown coffee bean types are c. arabica and c. robusta. coffee plants are cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the americas, southeast asia, the indian subcontinent, and africa. as of 2018, brazil was the leading grower of coffee beans, producing 35% of the world total. coffee is a major export commodity as the leading legal agricultural export for numerous countries. it is one of the most valuable commodities exported by developing countries. green, unroasted coffee is the most traded agricultural commodity and one of the most traded commodities overall, second only to petroleum. despite the sales of coffee reaching billions of dollars, those actually producing the beans are disproportionately living in poverty. critics also point to the coffee industry's negative impact on the environment and the clearing of land for coffee-growing and water use. the environmental costs and wage disparity of farmers are causing the market for fair trade and organic coffee to expand.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Corn

Maize ( mayz; zea mays subsp. mays, from spanish: maíz after taino: mahiz), also known as corn (north american and australian english), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern mexico about 10,000 years ago. the leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences (or "tassels") and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that when fertilized yield kernels or seeds, which are fruits.maize has become a staple food in many parts of the world, with the total production of maize surpassing that of wheat or rice. in addition to being consumed directly by humans (often in the form of masa), maize is also used for corn ethanol, animal feed and other maize products, such as corn starch and corn syrup. the six major types of maize are dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour corn, and sweet corn. sugar-rich varieties called sweet corn are usually grown for human consumption as kernels, while field corn varieties are used for animal feed, various corn-based human food uses (including grinding into cornmeal or masa, pressing into corn oil, fermentation and distillation into alcoholic beverages like bourbon whiskey), and as feedstocks for the chemical industry. maize is also used in making ethanol and other biofuels. maize is widely cultivated throughout the world, and a greater weight of maize is produced each year than any other grain. in 2014, total world production was 1.04 billion tonnes. maize is the most widely grown grain crop throughout the americas, with 361 million metric tons grown in the united states alone in 2014. genetically modified maize made up 85% of the maize planted in the united states in 2009. subsidies in the united states help to account for its high level of cultivation of maize and its position as the largest producer in the world.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Dziwala

Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder caelifera. they are among what is possibly the most ancient living group of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early triassic around 250 million years ago. grasshoppers are typically ground-dwelling insects with powerful hind legs which allow them to escape from threats by leaping vigorously. as hemimetabolous insects, they do not undergo complete metamorphosis; they hatch from an egg into a nymph or "hopper" which undergoes five moults, becoming more similar to the adult insect at each developmental stage. the grasshopper hears through the tympanal organ which can be found in the first segment of the abdomen attached to the thorax; while its sense of vision is in the compound eyes, the change in light intensity is perceived in the simple eyes (ocelli). at high population densities and under certain environmental conditions, some grasshopper species can change color and behavior and form swarms. under these circumstances, they are known as locusts. grasshoppers are plant-eaters, with a few species at times becoming serious pests of cereals, vegetables and pasture, especially when they swarm in the millions as locusts and destroy crops over wide areas. they protect themselves from predators by camouflage; when detected, many species attempt to startle the predator with a brilliantly-coloured wing-flash while jumping and (if adult) launching themselves into the air, usually flying for only a short distance. other species such as the rainbow grasshopper have warning coloration which deters predators. grasshoppers are affected by parasites and various diseases, and many predatory creatures feed on both nymphs and adults. the eggs are subject to attack by parasitoids and predators. grasshoppers have had a long relationship with humans. swarms of locusts can have devastating effects and cause famine, having done so since biblical times. even in smaller numbers, the insects can be serious pests. they are used as food in countries such as mexico and indonesia. they feature in art, symbolism and literature. the study of grasshopper species is called acridology.

Drink

Emahewu

Thick beverage made from fermented maize porridge, may be flavored with fruit

Main

Fish

Many species of fish are caught by humans and consumed as food in virtually all regions around the world. fish has been an important dietary source of protein and other nutrients throughout human history. the english language does not have a special culinary name for food prepared from fish like with other animals (as with pig vs. pork), or as in other languages (such as spanish pescado vs. pez). in culinary and fishery contexts, fish may include so-called shellfish such as molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms; more expansively, seafood covers both fish and other marine life used as food.since 1961, the average annual increase in global apparent food fish consumption (3.2 percent) has outpaced population growth (1.6 percent) and exceeded consumption of meat from all terrestrial animals, combined (2.8 percent) and individually (bovine, ovine, porcine, etc.), except poultry (4.9 percent). in per capita terms, food fish consumption has grown from 9.0 kg (19.8 lb) in 1961 to 20.2 kg (45 lb) in 2015, at an average rate of about 1.5 percent per year. the expansion in consumption has been driven not only by increased production, but also by a combination of many other factors, including reduced wastage, better utilization, improved distribution channels and growing consumer demand, linked with population growth, rising disposable incomes and urbanization.europe, japan and the united states of america together accounted for 47 percent of the world's total food fish consumption in 1961, but only about 20 percent in 2015. of the global total of 149 million tonnes in 2015, asia consumed more than two-thirds (106 million tonnes at 24.0 kg per capita). oceania and africa consumed the lowest share. the shift is the result of structural changes in the sector and in particular the growing role of asian countries in fish production, as well as a significant gap between the economic growth rates of the world's more mature fish markets and those of many increasingly important emerging markets around the world, particularly in asia.

Main

Fish curry

Fish cooked in a sauce or gravy with spices

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Fruit

Bananas, papaya

Main

Futali

Boiled and mashed cassava, plantains, pumpkin or sweet potato, combined with peanut flour, serve with nsima, rice

Breakfast

Futali

Boiled and mashed cassava, plantains, pumpkin or sweet potato, combined with peanut flour, serve with nsima, rice

Drink

Ginger beer

Traditional ginger beer is a sweetened and carbonated, usually non-alcoholic beverage. historically it was produced by the natural fermentation of prepared ginger spice, yeast and sugar. current ginger beers are often manufactured rather than brewed, frequently with flavour and colour additives, with artificial carbonation. ginger ales are not brewed. ginger beer's origins date from the colonial spice trade with the orient and the sugar-producing islands of the caribbean. it was popular in britain and its colonies from the 18th century. other spices were variously added and any alcohol content was limited to 2% by excise tax laws in 1855. few brewers have maintained an alcoholic product.ginger beer is still produced at home using a symbiotic colony of yeast and a lactobacillus (bacteria) known as a "ginger beer plant" or from a "ginger bug" starter created from fermenting ginger, sugar, and water.

Main

Goat

Goat meat or goat's meat is the meat of the domestic goat (capra aegagrus hircus). the common name for goat meat is simply "goat", though meat from adult goats is referred to as chevon, while that from young goats can be called capretto (it.), cabrito (sp. and por.) or kid. in south asian and caribbean cuisine, mutton commonly means goat meat. in south asia, where mutton curry is popular, "mutton" is used for both goat and lamb meat. the culinary name "chevon", a blend of chèvre 'goat' and mouton 'sheep', was coined in 1922 and selected by a trade association; it was adopted by the united states department of agriculture in 1928.: 19  according to market research, consumers in the united states prefer "chevon" to "goat" "cabrito", a word of spanish and portuguese origin, refers specifically to the meat of a young, milk-fed goat. it is also known as chivo.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Groundnut

The peanut (arachis hypogaea) also known as the groundnut, goober (us), pindar (us) or monkey nut (uk), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. it is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, being important to both small and large commercial producers. it is classified as both a grain legume and, due to its high oil content, an oil crop. world annual production of shelled peanuts was 44 million tonnes in 2016, led by china with 38% of the world total. atypically among legume crop plants, peanut pods develop underground (geocarpy) rather than above ground. with this characteristic in mind, the botanist carl linnaeus gave peanuts the specific epithet hypogaea, which means "under the earth". the peanut belongs to the botanical family fabaceae (or leguminosae), commonly known as the legume, bean, or pea family. like most other legumes, peanuts harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules. the capacity to fix nitrogen means peanuts require less nitrogen-containing fertilizer and improve soil fertility, making them valuable in crop rotations. peanuts are similar in taste and nutritional profile to tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds, and, as a culinary nut, are often served in similar ways in western cuisines. the botanical definition of a nut is "a fruit whose ovary wall becomes hard at maturity". using this criterion, the peanut is not a nut. however, peanuts are usually categorized as nuts for culinary purposes and in common english more generally.

Main

Ifisashi

Stewed greens and vegetables in peanut sauce, may also contain meat

Drink

Kachasu

Kachasu, also known as lutuku, is an african traditional distilled beverage. it is made in zambia, zimbabwe, dr congo and malawi, mainly in rural parts and poor urban suburbs. it is normally brewed from maize, though finger millet and various fruits like banana peels can also be used. the process involves adding brewers' yeast together with the carbohydrate sources such as maize husks to warm water and heating the mixture for a few minutes. the product is then distilled after it has fully fermented. the alcohol content of kachasu can vary significantly, depending on the strength of the brew. studies have found an alcohol content ranging from 20 to 30% up to as high as 70%.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Kachumbari

Kachumbari is a fresh tomato and onion salad dish that is popular in the cuisines of the african great lakes region. it is an uncooked salad dish consisting of chopped tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers. variations of kachumbari can be found in kenya, tanzania, rwanda, uganda, burundi and in the southern african countries of malawi and congo.the swahili word kachumbari originated from the indian word cachumber.

Main

Kampango

The kampango or kampoyo (bagrus meridionalis) is a critically endangered species of large and predatory bagrid catfish that is endemic to lake malawi, lake malombe and the upper shire river in africa. it prefers areas near rocks in water shallower than 50 m (160 ft), but it also occurs deeper (not beyond the oxygen limit) and over a sandy or muddy bottom.

Main

Kholowa

Sweet potato leaves or greens, for example, stewed with vegetables

Main

Kondowole

Cassava porridge, serve with fish

Drink

Kuche Kuche

Main

Lamb

Lamb, hogget, and mutton, generically sheep meat, are the meat of domestic sheep, ovis aries. a sheep in its first year is a lamb and its meat is also lamb. the meat from sheep in their second year is hogget. older sheep meat is mutton. generally, "hogget" and "sheep meat" are not used by consumers outside norway, new zealand, south africa and australia. hogget has become more common in england, particularly in the north (lancashire and yorkshire) often in association with rare breed and organic farming. in south asian and caribbean cuisine, "mutton" often means goat meat. at various times and places, "mutton" or "goat mutton" has occasionally been used to mean goat meat.lamb is the most expensive of the three types and in recent decades sheep meat is increasingly only retailed as "lamb", sometimes stretching the accepted distinctions given above. the stronger-tasting mutton is now hard to find in many areas, despite the efforts of the mutton renaissance campaign in the uk. in australia, the term prime lamb is often used to refer to lambs raised for meat. other languages, for example french, spanish, italian and arabic, make similar or even more detailed distinctions among sheep meats by age and sometimes by sex and diet—for example, lechazo in spanish refers to meat from milk-fed (unweaned) lambs.

Drink

Malawi gin

Dessert, Sweet

Mandazi

Mandazi (swahili: mandazi, maandazi), is a form of fried bread that originated on the swahili coast. it is also known as bofrot or puff puff in western african countries such as ghana and nigeria. it is one of the principal dishes in the cuisine of the swahili people who inhabit the coastal region of kenya and tanzania. the dish is popular in the region, as it is convenient to make, can be eaten with almost any food or dips or just as a snack by itself, and can be saved and reheated for later consumption.

Dessert, Sweet

Mbatata

Sweet potato cookies

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Mbewa

Apodemus is a genus of muridae (true mice and rats). the name is unrelated to that of the mus genus, instead being derived from the greek ἀπό-δημος (literally away from home).

Breakfast

Mgaiwa phala

Sweet cornmeal porridge

Main

Mgaiwa phala

Sweet cornmeal porridge

Main

Mkhwani

Pumpkin leaves or greens, commonly stewed

Main

Mpasa

A fish similar to salmon

Dessert, Sweet

Mtedza

Peanut cookies

Main

Mutton

Lamb, hogget, and mutton, generically sheep meat, are the meat of domestic sheep, ovis aries. a sheep in its first year is a lamb and its meat is also lamb. the meat from sheep in their second year is hogget. older sheep meat is mutton. generally, "hogget" and "sheep meat" are not used by consumers outside norway, new zealand, south africa and australia. hogget has become more common in england, particularly in the north (lancashire and yorkshire) often in association with rare breed and organic farming. in south asian and caribbean cuisine, "mutton" often means goat meat. at various times and places, "mutton" or "goat mutton" has occasionally been used to mean goat meat.lamb is the most expensive of the three types and in recent decades sheep meat is increasingly only retailed as "lamb", sometimes stretching the accepted distinctions given above. the stronger-tasting mutton is now hard to find in many areas, despite the efforts of the mutton renaissance campaign in the uk. in australia, the term prime lamb is often used to refer to lambs raised for meat. other languages, for example french, spanish, italian and arabic, make similar or even more detailed distinctions among sheep meats by age and sometimes by sex and diet—for example, lechazo in spanish refers to meat from milk-fed (unweaned) lambs.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Nali

Nali sauce is a popular sauce from malawi dubbed, "'africa's hottest peri-peri sauce'. it is one of malawi's most popular sauces. the nali sauce brands have attained cult status with chilli lovers both in malawi and throughout the world for their hotness and taste. the heat level of nali sauce is approximately piri piri 175.000 scoville heat unitsnali is made from peri-peri sauce from malawian birds eye chillies which are the hottest in africa. they have been produced by nali ltd since the 1970s. there are currently 7 different flavors of nali sauces: mild, hot, gold, garlic, ginger, curry masala and bbq. the label on the bottle comes with a warning in english and chichewa that reads, "abale samalani", friends, take care. nali has a strong presence in zambia, zimbabwe, tanzania, kenya, mozambique and south africa.

Main

Ndiwo

Sauteed leafy vegetable greens, may include vegetables such as onions and tomatoes, meat, kapenta (fish), chicken

Main

Nsima

Ugali, or sima, is a type of stiff maize flour porridge made in africa. it is also known as vuswa, bogobe, fufu, gauli, gima, isitshwala, kimnyet, kuon, mieliepap, ngima, nshima, obokima, ovuchima, (o)busuma, oshifima, oruhere, pap, phutu, posho, sadza, ubugali, and umutsima, among other names. sima is sometimes made from other flours, such as millet or sorghum flour, and is sometimes mixed with cassava flour. it is cooked in boiling water or milk until it reaches a stiff or firm dough-like consistency. in 2017, the dish was added to the unesco representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, one of a few foods in the list.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Nthochi

Banana bread

Main

Nyama

Meat, many ways to prepare, for example, stewed, grilled, stir fried

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Peas

The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the pod fruit pisum sativum. each pod contains several peas, which can be green or yellow. botanically, pea pods are fruit, since they contain seeds and develop from the ovary of a (pea) flower. the name is also used to describe other edible seeds from the fabaceae such as the pigeon pea (cajanus cajan), the cowpea (vigna unguiculata), and the seeds from several species of lathyrus. peas are annual plants, with a life cycle of one year. they are a cool-season crop grown in many parts of the world; planting can take place from winter to early summer depending on location. the average pea weighs between 0.1 and 0.36 gram. the immature peas (and in snow peas the tender pod as well) are used as a vegetable, fresh, frozen or canned; varieties of the species typically called field peas are grown to produce dry peas like the split pea shelled from a matured pod. these are the basis of pease porridge and pea soup, staples of medieval cuisine; in europe, consuming fresh immature green peas was an innovation of early modern cuisine.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Polony

A bologna-like pork, beef and/or chicken sausage, this processed meat sausage is different from chikanda, also called african polony, which is a vegetarian loaf made from orchid tubers, peanuts, chilies and baking soda

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Potato

The potato is a starchy tuber of the plant solanum tuberosum and is a root vegetable native to the americas. the plant is a perennial in the nightshade family solanaceae.wild potato species can be found from the southern united states to southern chile. the potato was originally believed to have been domesticated by native americans independently in multiple locations, but later genetic studies traced a single origin, in the area of present-day southern peru and extreme northwestern bolivia. potatoes were domesticated there approximately 7,000–10,000 years ago, from a species in the solanum brevicaule complex. in the andes region of south america, where the species is indigenous, some close relatives of the potato are cultivated. potatoes were introduced to europe from the americas in the second half of the 16th century by the spanish. today they are a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply. as of 2014, potatoes were the world's fourth-largest food crop after maize (corn), wheat, and rice. following millennia of selective breeding, there are now over 5,000 different types of potatoes. over 99% of potatoes presently cultivated worldwide descended from varieties that originated in the lowlands of south-central chile. the importance of the potato as a food source and culinary ingredient varies by region and is still changing. it remains an essential crop in europe, especially northern and eastern europe, where per capita production is still the highest in the world, while the most rapid expansion in production over the past few decades has occurred in southern and eastern asia, with china and india leading the world in overall production as of 2018. like the tomato, the potato is a nightshade in the genus solanum, and the vegetative and fruiting parts of the potato contain the toxin solanine which is dangerous for human consumption. normal potato tubers that have been grown and stored properly produce glycoalkaloids in amounts small enough to be negligible to human health, but, if green sections of the plant (namely sprouts and skins) are exposed to light, the tuber can accumulate a high enough concentration of glycoalkaloids to affect human health.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Rice

Rice is the seed of the grass species oryza sativa (asian rice) or less commonly oryza glaberrima (african rice). the name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera zizania and porteresia, both wild and domesticated, although the term may also be used for primitive or uncultivated varieties of oryza. as a cereal grain, domesticated rice is the most widely consumed staple food for over half of the world's human population, especially in asia and africa. it is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize. since sizable portions of sugarcane and maize crops are used for purposes other than human consumption, rice is the most important food crop with regard to human nutrition and caloric intake, providing more than one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by humans. there are many varieties of rice and culinary preferences tend to vary regionally. the traditional method for cultivating rice is flooding the fields while, or after, setting the young seedlings. this simple method requires sound irrigation planning but reduces the growth of less robust weed and pest plants that have no submerged growth state, and deters vermin. while flooding is not mandatory for the cultivation of rice, all other methods of irrigation require higher effort in weed and pest control during growth periods and a different approach for fertilizing the soil. rice, a monocot, is normally grown as an annual plant, although in tropical areas it can survive as a perennial and can produce a ratoon crop for up to 30 years. rice cultivation is well-suited to countries and regions with low labor costs and high rainfall, as it is labor-intensive to cultivate and requires ample water. however, rice can be grown practically anywhere, even on a steep hill or mountain area with the use of water-controlling terrace systems. although its parent species are native to asia and certain parts of africa, centuries of trade and exportation have made it commonplace in many cultures worldwide. production and consumption of rice is estimated to have been responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2010.

Breakfast

Rice phala

Rice porridge

Main

Rice phala

Rice porridge

Main

Samoosa

A samosa () is a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling, including ingredients such as spiced potatoes, onions, and peas. it may take different forms, including triangular, cone, or half-moon shapes, depending on the region. samosas are often accompanied by chutney, and have origins in medieval times or earlier. samosas are a popular entrée, appetizer, or snack in the cuisines of south asia, the middle east, central asia, east africa and their diasporas. the english word samosa derives from hindi word 'samosa' (hindi: समोसा), traceable to the middle persian word sanbosag (سنبوسگ) 'triangular pastry'. similar pastries are called sambusak in arabic; medieval arabic recipe books sometimes spell it sambusaj. the spelling samoosa is used in south africa.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Samosa

A samosa () is a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling, including ingredients such as spiced potatoes, onions, and peas. it may take different forms, including triangular, cone, or half-moon shapes, depending on the region. samosas are often accompanied by chutney, and have origins in medieval times or earlier. samosas are a popular entrée, appetizer, or snack in the cuisines of south asia, the middle east, central asia, east africa and their diasporas. the english word samosa derives from hindi word 'samosa' (hindi: समोसा), traceable to the middle persian word sanbosag (سنبوسگ) 'triangular pastry'. similar pastries are called sambusak in arabic; medieval arabic recipe books sometimes spell it sambusaj. the spelling samoosa is used in south africa.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Sorghum

Sorghum is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the grass family (poaceae). some of these species are grown as cereals for human consumption and some in pastures for animals. one species is grown for grain, while many others are used as fodder plants, either cultivated in warm climates worldwide or naturalized in pasture lands.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Sweet potato

The sweet potato or sweetpotato (ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, convolvulaceae. its large, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable. the young shoots and leaves are sometimes eaten as greens. cultivars of the sweet potato have been bred to bear tubers with flesh and skin of various colors. sweet potato is only distantly related to the common potato (solanum tuberosum), both being in the order solanales. although darker sweet potatoes are often referred to as "yams" in parts of north america, the species is not a true yam, which are monocots in the order dioscoreales.sweet potato is native to the tropical regions of the americas. of the approximately 50 genera and more than 1,000 species of convolvulaceae, i. batatas is the only crop plant of major importance—some others are used locally (e.g., i. aquatica "kangkong"), but many are poisonous. the genus ipomoea that contains the sweet potato also includes several garden flowers called morning glories, though that term is not usually extended to i. batatas. some cultivars of i. batatas are grown as ornamental plants under the name tuberous morning glory, and used in a horticultural context.

Drink

Tea

Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to china, india and other east asian countries. tea is also rarely made from the leaves of camellia taliensis. after water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world. there are many different types of tea; some have a cooling, slightly bitter, and astringent flavour, while others have vastly different profiles that include sweet, nutty, floral, or grassy notes. tea has a stimulating effect in humans primarily due to its caffeine content.tea plants are native to east asia and probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern china and northern burma. an early credible record of tea drinking dates to the third century ad, in a medical text written by hua tuo. it was popularised as a recreational drink during the chinese tang dynasty, and tea drinking subsequently spread to other east asian countries. portuguese priests and merchants introduced it to europe during the 16th century. during the 17th century, drinking tea became fashionable among the english, who started to plant tea on a large scale in india. the term herbal tea refers to drinks not made from camellia sinensis. they are the infusions of fruit, leaves, or other plant parts, such as steeps of rosehip, chamomile, or rooibos. these may be called tisanes or herbal infusions to prevent confusion with tea made from the tea plant.

Drink

Thobwa

Thobwa is a malawian and zambian fermented drink that has a milky appearance, a cereal taste and a grainy texture. it is made from white maize and millet or sorghum and is popular in all parts of the country. the name thobwa means "sweet beer", and although it is non-alcoholic it can be left for five days and it will turn to mowa or beer.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Tsabola

Spicy dipping sauce made with tomatoes, onions, peri peri peppers, salt, serve with, for example, chippies, street food

Main

Usipa

Usipa (scientific name: engraulicypris sardella) is a "small sardine-like fish that occurs in large shoals". because of its small size, it is commonly dried. usipa is mostly eaten in malawi and mozambique along with nsima ugali. dried usipa is sold at most markets in malawi. in malawi, usipa is typically consumed with the bones in it due to their softness.usipa plays a significant role in the economic livelihood for many households at lake malawi that rely upon fishing for income. a great deal is not known about the species' biology.

Dessert, Sweet

Zitumbuwa

Banana fritters