Bobotie

Bobotie is a classic South African dish with roots in the Cape Malay tradition. Spiced minced beef is combined with bread, chutney and raisins and baked in the oven under a soft layer of egg and milk.

Serves: 4 people
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 1 hour
Total time: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 600 g minced beef
• 2 slices white bread
• 250 ml full-fat milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons apricot chutney
• 2 tablespoons curry masala
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 70 g tomato purée
• 50 g sultanas
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon wine vinegar
• 2 bay leaves
• Butter
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Soak the bread
   Place the bread in a bowl and pour the milk over it. Leave the bread to soak for a few minutes. Then squeeze it out well and reserve the milk for the egg layer.
2. Chop the flavourings
   Peel and finely chop the onion. Peel the garlic and chop it finely. Finely chop the mint leaves.
3. Soak the raisins
   Put the raisins in a bowl, cover them with lukewarm water and leave them to soak while you continue with the preparation.

Method

1. Preheat the oven
   Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Cook the minced beef and onion
   Melt a knob of butter in a large frying pan or casserole over a medium heat. Cook the onion for a few minutes until it begins to soften. Add the minced beef and cook, breaking it up, until it has lost its raw colour.
3. Cook the tomato purée and spices
   Push the minced beef mixture to one side of the pan. Add the tomato purée to the empty section and cook for about 1 minute. Add the garlic, curry masala and turmeric and cook briefly until the spices are fragrant. Then mix everything through the minced beef.
4. Finish the filling
   Add the chutney, wine vinegar and mint. Drain the raisins well and mix them through the minced beef. Crumble the soaked and squeezed bread over the pan and mix it carefully through the filling. Season with salt and black pepper.
5. Fill the oven dish
   Lightly grease a suitable oven dish with butter. Spread the minced beef mixture evenly over the dish and press it down lightly.
6. Make the egg layer
   Beat the eggs with the reserved milk and season the mixture lightly with salt and black pepper. Pour it evenly over the minced beef filling and place the bay leaves on top.
7. Bake the bobotie
   Place the dish in the centre of the oven and bake the bobotie for approximately 40–45 minutes, until the egg layer is completely set but still soft and the top is golden yellow.