Bobotie Recipe
Bobotie is a traditional South African dish featuring spiced ground meat baked with a savory custard topping. This recipe combines aromatic curry powder and warm spices with juicy raisins and tart apple for a unique blend of sweet and savory flavors, all baked to perfection for a comforting and flavorful meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: South African
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 medium onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 large slice bread
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ lb ground beef (or ground lamb or a mixture of both)
- 1 apple, peeled, cored and grated
- ¼ cup raisins
- ½ lemon juice (from ½ lemon, about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 eggs
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: Melt the butter in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Dice the onions and crush the garlic before adding them to the pan. Cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare bread soak: Remove the crusts from the bread slice and soak it in the milk, allowing it to absorb the liquid.
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 325°F (160°C) to prepare for baking the bobotie.
- Cook spices and meat: Add the curry powder, turmeric, and ground cumin to the cooked onions and stir well, cooking for about one minute to release the spices’ aroma. Then add the ground meat to the pan and cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until the meat is browned and cooked through.
- Add fruit and bread mixture: Mix in the grated apple, raisins, and the soaked bread along with its milk (do not discard the milk). Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly, then remove the pan from heat.
- Season and bind: Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and one of the eggs to the meat mixture. Stir thoroughly to incorporate everything together.
- Assemble in dish: Transfer the meat mixture to a casserole dish, pressing it down firmly and evenly.
- Prepare custard topping: Beat the remaining egg with the retained milk and pour this custard mixture over the meat in the casserole dish. Optionally, place a bay leaf on top for added flavor.
- Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the custard topping is set and lightly golden brown.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground lamb or a combination of beef and lamb for a richer flavor.
- The bay leaf on top is optional but adds a subtle aromatic note during baking.
- This dish is best served warm, accompanied by yellow rice or a fresh salad.
- Ensure not to discard the milk used to soak the bread, as it is incorporated into the custard topping.
- Adjust curry powder quantity according to your spice preference.
Keywords: Bobotie, South African recipe, baked ground meat, curry, savory custard topping, lamb recipe, beef recipe
Find it online: https://jedentaglecker.com/bobotie-recipe/
