South African Bobotie

South Africa’s national dish — a spiced minced meat bake with a savory custard top. Fascinating and delicious.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground beef or lamb
• 2 slices white bread, soaked in 1/2 cup milk
• 2 onions, diced
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tbsp apricot jam or chutney
• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds

Salt and pepper

• Topping: 2 eggs beaten with 1 cup milk, 1/2 tsp turmeric

Bay leaves

• Serve with yellow rice (rice cooked with turmeric and raisins)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Sauté onion until soft.

Add garlic and curry powder. Cook 2 minutes.

1. Add meat, brown well. Add jam, vinegar, dried fruit, almonds.
2. Squeeze milk from bread. Add bread to meat mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

Spread in a greased baking dish. Level the top.

1. Whisk egg-milk topping with turmeric. Pour over meat.

Tuck bay leaves into surface at angles.

1. Bake 35-40 minutes until topping is golden and set.

Notes

Bobotie is a Cape Malay dish reflecting South Africa’s complex cultural history. The sweet-savory combination of curry, dried fruit, and creamy egg topping is uniquely South African.