Roasted Mealies

In general, Zambians act surprised when they see me enjoying roasted mealies (fire toasted maize). For clarification, maize is a distant relative of sweet corn. Local maize is neither sweet nor tender, but I still enjoy yanking the massive, freshly roasted kernels off the cob for a starchy snack… however, my jaw gets so tired of chewing it’s difficult to eat more than half a cob of mealies at a time. (Our deacon loves roasted maize so much he can eat at least three cobs in one sitting!) I don’t cook the local treat myself (way too much work for half a cob at a time), but I occasionally enjoy the tough, roasted goodness from street vendors or at friends’ houses.