Bobotie

About This Recipe

Bobotie is South Africa's unofficial national dish — a fragrant, slightly sweet minced meat casserole enriched with dried fruit and warm spices, finished with a savoury egg-and-milk custard that sets into a golden topping. It reflects the Cape Malay culinary heritage that shaped Cape Town's cuisine.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 600 gground beef
• 2 tbspmild curry powder
• 50 graisins
• 2 sliceswhite bread, soaked in 125 ml milk
• 3 largeeggs
• 125 mlfull-cream milk

Instructions

1. 1

   Fry the meat

   Sauté 1 diced onion in oil, add curry powder, then the beef. Cook until no longer pink. Squeeze excess milk from the bread and crumble it into the meat along with raisins. Season and mix well.

2. 2

   Fill the dish

   Transfer the mixture to a greased 22 cm ovenproof dish and press flat.

3. 3

   Make the custard

   Whisk eggs with 125 ml milk and a pinch of turmeric. Pour evenly over the meat.

4. 4

   Bake

   Bake at 180 °C for 35–40 minutes until the custard is set and golden. Serve with yellow rice and chutney.

Variations

• •

  Use lamb mince for a richer, more traditional version.

• •

  Add sliced apricots instead of raisins for a fruitier flavour.

Storage

Refrigerate covered for up to 3 days. Reheat at 160 °C until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions