Chikanda

This Zambian snack is prepared with a tuber of chikanda orchids. The small-sized tubers are dried and pounded, and then combined with a thick mixture of peanuts and dry chili peppers. Chikanda is often referred to as African polony, because of its meat-like consistency. In the past, the dish was traditionally associated with the Bemba tribe in north-east Zambia, but nowadays it is consumed throughout the country. Chikanda is usually served sliced and can be enjoyed as a snack, dessert, or an accompaniment to nshima, a traditional Zambian maize porridge.