South African Bobotie Recipe

Bobotie is a traditional South African Casserole made with minced meat and an egg-based topping, alongside onions, garlic, curry powder, dry herbs, cloves, allspice, sultanas, and bay leaves. The dish is both savory and sweet, and is often served with a combination of yellow rice and various chutneys. 

Origin & Cultural Significance

Bobotie is thought to have originally been adapted from a Dutch dish which dates back to Roman times, that was introduced to South Africa during the colonization. Bobotie was then altered by Cape Malay cuisine, which was influenced by Indonesian cooking techniques when the Indonesian people were enslaved in South Africa during the 17th century. 

The dish is a combination of African, Asian, and European ingredients, flavors, and cooking techniques – embracing both the history and the culture of the country. Often considered South Africa’s favorite dish, it is often served at family meals, parties, and small celebrations.

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South African Bobotie Recipe

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

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Ingredients

• Ground beef or lamb - 1 lb
• Onion (finely chopped) - 1
• Bread slices (soaked in milk) - 2
• Curry powder - 2 tbsp
• Garlic (minced) - 2 cloves
• Chutney - 2 tbsp
• Raisins - 1/4 cup
• Almonds (slivered) - 1/4 cup
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
• Egg - 1
• Milk - 1/2 cup
• Salt and pepper - to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large skillet, sauté the chopped onion until soft. Add the minced garlic and curry powder, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
3. Add the ground meat to the skillet, cooking until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Squeeze out the excess milk from the soaked bread and add the bread to the meat mixture, stirring to combine.
5. Stir in the chutney, raisins, almonds, and lemon juice. Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Pour over the meat mixture in the baking dish.
7. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is set and golden brown.
8. Serve the Bobotie hot, accompanied by yellow rice and chutney

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 220Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 206mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 13g

Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.