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South African Bobotie

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Bobotie is a traditional South African dish made with spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping, offering a comforting balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 kg ground beef or lamb
  • 2 slices white bread
  • 125 ml milk (for soaking bread)
  • 2 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tbsp fruit chutney (e.g., Mrs. Ball’s)
  • 1 tbsp apricot jam
  • 2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp raisins or sultanas
  • 2 large eggs
  • 250 ml milk (for topping)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Bay leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions until soft, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add ground meat and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
  4. Soak bread in 125 ml milk, then squeeze out excess milk and crumble bread into the meat mixture.
  5. Stir in curry powder, turmeric, coriander, cumin, chutney, apricot jam, vinegar or lemon juice, raisins, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5–10 minutes to blend flavors.
  6. Transfer meat mixture to a greased baking dish and flatten the surface.
  7. In a bowl, whisk eggs with 250 ml milk. Pour over the meat mixture.
  8. Arrange bay leaves on top as garnish.
  9. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until topping is set and lightly golden.
  10. Serve warm, traditionally with yellow rice and sambals.

Notes

  • Bobotie can be made with either beef or lamb, or a mixture of both.
  • For a richer flavor, substitute part of the milk with cream.
  • Serve with traditional sides like yellow rice, chutney, and sliced bananas.
  • Leftovers reheat well and can be frozen.

Nutrition

Keywords: South African bobotie, minced meat casserole, egg topping, traditional South African recipe

Find it online: https://zesticook.com/south-african-bobotie/