By Malcolm Jhala in Magoye
As one travels along the Great North Road in Zambia’s Southern Province, there lies an intriguing culinary pit stop – the Magoye Chicken. This dish, an assemblage of wild chicken boiled with a Spartan-like restraint in seasoning (salt and nothing else), accompanied by Zambia’s main dish of boiled maize meal nsima, and boiled cabbage, presents a culinary riddle wrapped in a paradox.
The wild chicken is the star of the show, or at least it believes it is. Boiled to a point where it retains its natural flavours – which are indeed wild and free, much like the chicken itself once was – the dish takes a vow of flavour simplicity. The seasoning strategy seems to be inspired by a minimalist artist, with salt being the only guest invited to this flavour party.Nsima, the starchy hero of Zambian cuisine, plays its role with a stoic reliability. It’s the dependable friend at a party who you know will always be there, albeit sometimes blending into the background. In this culinary ensemble, Nsima offers a comforting base, balancing the unassuming chicken and the boiled cabbage, which let’s face it, isn’t winning any ‘most exciting vegetable at the dinner table’ awards.
The allure of Magoye Chicken among travelers seems less about a culinary revelation and more akin to a tradition. It’s the kind of dish that makes one wonder if there’s a secret ingredient or technique missed by the uninitiated. Spoiler alert: there isn’t. Its popularity is somewhat of a culinary mystery, akin to wondering why people love watching movies they know are bad – there’s a charm in its simplicity and predictability.In all honesty, Magoye Chicken is a testament to traditional cooking – unpretentious, straightforward, and let’s dare say, a tad bland. It’s like that one relative who tells the same story at every family gathering. You know what’s coming, but there’s comfort in the familiarity. For those seeking an explosion of flavours, this dish is more of a gentle murmur. Yet, in its essence, it’s a humble representation of Zambian cuisine, content in its simplicity and beloved for its connection to the local culture and the memories it evokes for many along this well-travelled road.
So, if you find yourself journeying along the Great North Road, a stop for Magoye Chicken is a must – not so much for a culinary epiphany, but for a taste of Zambia’s unassuming culinary tradition and a story to tell about the most famous chicken that preferred to keep things simple.
Photo credit: Yona Musukwa
