Bobotie Recipe

Bobotie is frequently referred to as the national dish of South Africa. It comes from the Cape Malay population, who gave South African cuisine a number of dishes including sosaties and bredie that are today regarded as staples.

Minced meat, spices, bread, and fruit are combined to make bobotie, which is then covered in a milk and egg mixture and baked until set. The dish is thought to have been influenced by foods from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but over time, regional ingredients and spices were combined to produce a distinctive South African rendition.

Here’s a recipe for “Bobotie”, a traditional South African dish made with minced meat and spices, topped with a mixture of eggs and milk and baked until set:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef or lamb
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 slices white bread, soaked in milk
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons apricot jam
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground meat over medium heat until browned, about 10 minutes.
3. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the curry powder, coriander, cumin, sugar, turmeric, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
5. Remove from heat and mix in the bread, raisins, and apricot jam.
6. Transfer the mixture to a large baking dish and smooth out the top.
7. Beat together the eggs and milk, then pour over the meat mixture.
8. Place a bay leaf on top and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is set and golden brown.
9. Serve hot with rice and a side salad.