People in Botswana eat a mixture of Western food, like we have in the United States, such as fried chicken, pizza and loaf bread, but they mainly eat traditional foods based on their culture and upbringing. They eat a lot of starches and grains, such as sorghum, and also paletshe [pal-etch-a], which is a thick porridge made from corn served with gravy and vegetables, which they call soup. Frequently people eat with their hands, mixing a small ball of the paletshe with gravy or vegetables.
Food is a big part of celebrations such as weddings or funerals, called celebrations of life. The women in the community come together and make large pots of each dish because everyone in the community is invited.
Doughnuts have always been one of my favorite foods. Here in Botswana, I knew I wanted to give fat cakes, or magwinya [mah-gween-ya], a try. These are fried dough balls ranging in size from golf ball to tennis ball size, and cost less than 10 cents. They are sold at the bakery in the grocery store, but the best ones are made and sold in small food stalls across the community. The outside is browned and slightly crispy and the inside is soft, perfect for sweet or savory additions, such as ground beef, cheese or even some jam. The bigger ones are also good for tearing off pieces and sharing with a friend, too!
