KARACHI: They seem like big pieces of coal or dead mice laid out in rows by some sadistic soul. What are these pushcart vendors selling? On closer inspection, one may also see lots of lime along the stuff. So is it something to eat?

“Of course, it is,” says Sajjad Ahmed, slightly offended at his steamed sweet potatoes being taken for something other than a delightful roadside snack. “Sweet potatoes are a good and healthy snack. I know that even diabetics can enjoy it.”

The vendor may be right there. Sweet potatoes, according to research, help keep the blood sugar in control if eaten in moderate amounts. They contain dietary fibre, which does not elevate blood sugar levels.

The snack, enjoyed warm with a generous helping of masala and lime squeezed on it, is rather welcome in this nippy weather, especially in the evenings. “I only sell sweet potato in the winter. In summers, I sell fruit,” says Sajjad as he parks his cart outside a park and if that park is near a mosque, like the Zamzama Park, even better. Tearing up a piece of newspaper, he weighs a quarter of a kilogram for you for Rs50 only.

“I get around 20kg from the Sabzi Mandi every day. Then I place them on a sheet of metal mesh over a large drum of boiling water to steam them. That done, I roast them over coal on my cart to serve hot to my customers. I sell around 15kg every day. On a good day, I can sell 20kg,” he smiles.

Another welcome delight these days is corn on the cob or corn kernel also served warm with masala and lime juice. “Grownups prefer corn on the cob while children like corn kernel. Actually, in Buner, from where I hail, we have children and goats growing up on maize seeds, or makaikadana as the kernel is commonly called,” says Shahid Khan, selling corn from his cart parked outside a school.

Corn kernel is cooked in hot black salt over coal embers. Then the corn is picked up with the salt and strained to be separated before transferring it to little bags of different sizes made from old newspapers. After sprinkling masala and lime juice, Shahid only has to wait for the school bell to ring before being surrounded by children buying a little bag from him for Rs20, Rs50 or Rs100, according to the size of the bag.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2016