Vinkubala — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Dried mopane caterpillars fried until crispy with tomatoes and onions, a protein-rich delicacy prized across Zambia.

Ingredients

1 Soak dried caterpillars in warm water for fifteen minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess moisture.
2 Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3 Add onions and fry for three minutes until they begin to turn golden.
4 Add caterpillars and fry for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to crisp.
5 Add tomatoes, salt, and chili powder, cook for three more minutes until tomatoes soften.
6 Serve hot as a crunchy snack or alongside nshima as a protein-rich relish.

Did You Know?

Mopane caterpillars contain more protein per gram than beef and are considered a sustainable food source by the United Nations.