Easy South African Bobotie
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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Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 696kcal
Equipment
- Large saucepan or frying pan
- Oven dish, circa 30cm x 20cm (12" x 8")
Ingredients
For the curried mince
- 3 slices 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.3 slices bread, crusts removed, 350 millilitre (12.3 fl oz) milk
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.2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons butter, 2 sliced medium onions, 4 garlic cloves
- 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.2 tablespoons mild curry powder, 4 tablespoons fruit chutney, heaped, 4 tablespoons apricot jam, 1 tablespoon Worcester Sauce, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely chopped/minced, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 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.1 kilogram (2.2 lb) beef mince, 100 millilitre (6-7 tbsp) sultanas, 1.5 teaspoons salt, 1 beef stock cube, crumbled, black pepper to taste
- Remove the Bobotie mixture from the heat and stir in the beaten egg.1 egg, lightly beaten
- 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.2 eggs, 1 good pinch salt, 1 good pinch turmeric
- 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.6 bay leaves
- 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
What baking dish to use
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.Visual clues to know when it's done baking
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"!Dietary adaptations
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.
**Nutritional data disclaimer**
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.
Nutrition
Calories: 696kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 211mg | Sodium: 1048mg | Potassium: 813mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 6mg
