Easy South African Bobotie
User Reviews
5.0
513 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr
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Servings
6 servings
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Calories
696 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
South African
Easy South African Bobotie
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This traditional South African baked bobotie is simple, easy and packed with bold Cape Malay flavours. Made with beef mince, fragrant bobotie spices, sweet bursts of raisins and the tanginess of fruit chutney (Mrs Ball's if you can help it!) and apricot jam.
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Ingredients
For the curried mince
- 3 lices bread, crusts removed This is based on 3 slices of shop-cut bread. If you are cutting the bread yourself, 1 x slice of about 3cm thickness will do. You can use white or brown bread
- 350 millilitre (12.3 fl oz) milk
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons butter
- 2 sliced medium onions
- 4 garlic cloves or 2 teaspoons garlic paste/chopped garlic
- 2 tablespoons mild curry powder add ½ tablespoon more if you like it spicy
- 4 tablespoons fruit chutney, heaped
- 4 tablespoons apricot jam
- 1 tablespoon worcester sauce
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely chopped/minced
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or other brown or white vinegar
- 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) beef mince
- 100 millilitre (6-7 tbsp) sultanas
- 1.5 teaspoons salt test for salt and add more if you'd like
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 beef stock cube, crumbled
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
For the savoury custard topping
- 2 eggs
- 1 good pinch salt
- 1 good pinch Turmeric
- 6 bay leaves
Instructions
Prepare the bread
- Roughly tear the crustless bread into pieces, place it in a bowl and cover with the milk. Leave this to soak while you get on with the rest of the Bobotie.
Prepare the curried mince
- Preheat the oven to 180C/356F (160C fan/320F fan).
- Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan or frying pan and add the chopped onions and garlic. Gently fry over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent. About 4-5 minutes.
- Next, add the curry powder, fruit chutney, apricot jam, Worcester sauce, turmeric, chopped ginger, cinnamon and red wine vinegar to the onion mixture.Gently fry over low heat, stirring frequently for 1-2 minutes until everything is heated through and smelling fragrant.
- Revisit the bread that's now been soaking in the milk for a few minutes. Drain the bread from the milk and roughly mash it with a fork. Keep the remaining milk, we will use it for the savoury egg custard topping later.
- Add the mince, soaked bread, sultanas, salt and black pepper to the spicy onion mixture in the pan. Then, crumble the beef stock cube into the mixture.Give it a good mix and gently fry, whilst stirring, until the mince has lost its pinkness.Tip: A wooden spoon works great for breaking up the mince.
- Remove the Bobotie mixture from the heat and stir in the beaten egg.
- Spoon the meat mixture into a greased oven dish of roughly 30cm x 20cm (12" x 8") and smooth the top.
Prepare the savoury custard topping
- Break the two remaining eggs into the leftover milk together with a pinch of salt and a pinch of turmeric. Whisk thoroughly until the egg yolks are fully incorporated and evenly blended.
- Gently pour the egg mixture evenly over the top of the meat. Place the bay leaves on top. Try to space them out equally in a pattern of your choice.
- Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour. The cooking time is a good guide, but ensure you have a bit of a crispy edge on the sides, that's the best bit of a well-baked Bobotie! Add on a few extra minutes if necessary.
Notes
- You will need an oven-safe baking dish approximately 20cm x 30cm in size.
- A large cast iron pan works well too as it can go straight from the stove to the oven.
- Bake the bobotie between 50 minutes to 1 hour in a moderate oven.
- However, it’s imperative to keep an eye on it and ensure you get a nice, golden brown edge along the outside of the dish.
- This really is the best bit. In South Africa families have been known to squabble over the crispy, almost-burnt "side scoops"!
- Vegetarian bobotie: Replace beef mince with soy mince like Quorn.
- Gluten-free bobotie: Use gluten-free bread and check the chutney and Worcester sauce labels.
- Dairy-free bobotie: Swap milk for almond or oat milk and use a dairy-free butter alternative.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
696kcal
(35%)
Carbohydrates
38g
(13%)
Protein
36g
(72%)
Fat
44g
(68%)
Saturated Fat
16g
(80%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
17g
Trans Fat
2g
Cholesterol
211mg
(70%)
Sodium
1048mg
(44%)
Potassium
813mg
(23%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
21g
(42%)
Vitamin A
309IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
171mg
(17%)
Iron
6mg
(33%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 696 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 696kcal | 35% |
| Carbohydrates | 38g | 13% |
| Protein | 36g | 72% |
| Fat | 44g | 68% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 17g | 85% |
| Trans Fat | 2g | 100% |
| Cholesterol | 211mg | 70% |
| Sodium | 1048mg | 44% |
| Potassium | 813mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
| Vitamin A | 309IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 171mg | 17% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
513 reviews
Excellent
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