Nsima and Goombi

There are two foods that are very popular here in Malawi, and I have already tried one of them. It is called nsima. It is basically made with flour and water, made into a thick paste. Curried chicken and nsima is often served in restaurants or for a special meal in some homes.

To eat it, tear off a piece of nsima, break off a piece of chicken, roll it around in your fingers with the nsima, then dip it up to your nuckles in the curry sauce. Put the whole thing in your mouth up to your nuckles, then lick your fingers.

The second food I have not tried, but it is very popular. It is called goombi, which is roasted mayflies. Mayflies are easy to catch after a rain because they fall down into puddles. Today in the Zomba market, there were many vendors selling bowls of goombi, roasted golden brown, but they can be eaten raw.

Last night we watched two men in the light of a street lamp jumping up and down grabbing goombi and stuffing them into a bag. They planned to take them home for dinner. To prepare goombi, catch them and pull off their wings. Roast them in a little oil in the bottom of a pan over a fire.

Like I said, I have eaten nsima and managed well, but at some point in time, I will be asked to try goombi, If I am offered some, it would be inhospitable not to try it.