Bobotie
Bobotie
No self respecting South African housewife does not own (and treasure!) a favourite bobotie recipe.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, peeled and sliced
2 1/4 pounds good quality lean ground beef
1 thickish slice of white bread
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon medium curry powder (or hot for the hale and brave)
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
freshly grated pepper (about a half teaspoon)
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 tablespoons malt vinegar
1/2 cup seedless raisins
2 tablespoons strong chutney
2 bay leaves (or fresh lemon leaves if available)
2 medium eggs
METHOD
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Heat oil in medium sauté pan. Stir in onions. Cook over medium heat until transparent. Add ground beef. Cook until lightly browned and crumbly.
Soak bread in half the milk, squeeze out excess milk and mash with a fork – DON’T TOSS SQUEEZED OUT MILK! Pour it straight back into remaining milk. Set milk aside, and ad pulled-apart bread to the meat mixture.
Add curry, sugar, salt, pepper, turmeric, vinegar, raisins, chutney to the beef mixture. Spoon the mixture into a greased baking dish, and place bay leaves on top.
Bake for 50-60 minutes in preheated 350°F oven.
Beat egg with remaining milk and pour over mixture approximately 25 – 30 minutes before end of baking time.
Serve with steamed rice (traditionally yellow!) and extra chutney.
Pure South African comfort food! Especially nice in winter, or cold with a salad in summer.
Serves: 6
(19.04.09)
Bobotie belongs to the following groups:
FAUNA, FLORA, LANDSCAPES AND ARCHITECTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Sheila Pasket
Sounds & looks really good. However what is turmeric?
Heather Nel replied
Turmeric is widely used as a spice in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. In South Africa turmeric is traditionally used to give boiled white rice a golden color. It’s similar to saffron : )
Sheila Pasket
April 2009
Heather Nel replied
many thanks for the feature … much appreciated : )
cindylu
Like the angle of the shot!
Heather Nel replied
thanks a million, trying something different for a change : )
Squealia
You could add it to the challenge here
Rowan Plantag...
Sounds very awesome :)
Heather Nel replied
it is really great … please give it a try.
bubblehex08
I really want to try that! The photo has convinced me!
Heather Nel replied
please do and let me know how you enjoyed it. We all love it here at home … a real favourite
IngridSonja 29 days ago
Great shot! I LOVE Bobotie (and I’m vegetarian!). I make it when I entertain.
Heather Nel replied 27 days ago
this is sure one of my favourite entertaining dishes too, people are so impressed with it yet so little effort : )