Bobotie

A baked dish of lightly curried minced meat sweetened with dried fruit and topped with a golden egg custard. It is a beloved comfort meal in South African homes.

Bobotie

Bobotie, South African dish: Olga Ernst, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

Bobotie is a signature of the Cape, shaped by Cape Malay cooking, with warm spices and a touch of sweetness. It is usually served with yellow rice, chutney and sliced banana.

Explore the cuisine of South Africa.

Recipe

Make Bobotie at home

Serves 6Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 kg ground beef or lamb
  • 2 slices white bread
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 2 tbsp mild curry powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tbsp apricot jam or chutney
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 eggs
  • 4 bay leaves

How it's made

  1. Heat the oven to 350 F. Soak the bread in the milk, then squeeze it out and keep the milk.
  2. Saute the onions in oil until golden, then add curry powder and turmeric.
  3. Add the meat and cook until browned, breaking it up.
  4. Stir in the bread, jam, raisins, lemon juice and salt; mix well.
  5. Press into a baking dish and tuck bay leaves on top.
  6. Beat the eggs with the reserved milk, pour over the meat and bake 30-35 minutes until set and golden.

Variations

  • Vegetarian bobotie with lentils.
  • Bobotie with almonds on top for crunch.

Cook’s tip: Do not overcook the topping; remove it as soon as the custard is just set.

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About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • Bobotie, South African dish: Olga Ernst, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)