Top 3 Zambian Vegan Dishes

Last updated on June 15, 2026
01

Delele

3.6 ·

In Zambia, the term delele denotes okra, but also a simple dish that incorporates this traditional vegetable. The dish is predominately prepared with fresh okra that is cooked in water, alongside sliced tomatoes. Bicarbonate of soda is considered to be the essential addition that provides a distinctive thick, glutinous texture. Pair it with nshima, a traditional Zambian cornmeal porridge. The same dish is also enjoyed in Zimbabwe, where it typically goes under the name derere.

02

Ifisashi

n/a ·

Ifisashi is a traditional dish made with peanuts, tomatoes, onions, and greens such as pumpkin leaves, sweet potato leaves, spinach, and collard greens. The ingredients are cooked until the peanut sauce achieves a desired, thick consistency. The dish is typically served piping hot. Although ifisashi is usually prepared as a vegetarian dish, beef, chicken, or fish can also be added to the pot if there are any leftovers.

03

Kalembula

n/a ·

Kalembula is a traditional ndiwo dish prepared with sweet potato leaves, tomatoes, onions, and pounded groundnuts. The combination of these ingredients is cooked in water until the dish develops a thick consistency. Just like other ndiwo dishes, kalembula is also paired with nshima, a traditional Zambian maize porridge.

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About this ranking

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 3 Zambian Vegan Dishes” list until June 15, 2026, 11 ratings were recorded, of which 11 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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