Bobotie Recipe

Content… What Is It? Ingredient List How to Make It Recipe Notes What to Serve More Mouthwatering South African Recipes to Try Watch How to Make It

What Is Bobotie?

Bobotie(pronounced ba-BOOR-tea) has quite a history. The ancient Romans enjoyed a similar dish, probably the original version (yep, imagine being in those calf-high Roman sandals chowing down on this meatloaf). The meat was seasoned with pine nuts, pepper, celery seeds, and asafoetida (a strong-smelling spice with a unique flavor). Then, they topped it with an egg and milk mixture.

Today, traditional South African bobotie recipes are much simpler, with curry powder and chopped onions. And some add almonds. Traditionally, bobotie has dried fruits like raisins or sultanas and is often garnished with walnuts, chutney, and bananas.

Ingredients You’ll Need

1. Binder – Bread soaked in milk provides a great binder and extra moisture for a juicy meatloaf-style casserole.
2. Seasonings – Saute onions and garlic in butter for the aromatics. Then, add curry powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander, dried herbs, and Worcestershire sauce for classic African flavors.
3. Meat – Lean ground beef is the hearty base for bobotie, but you could use ground lamb, pork, or even venison.
4. Fruitiness – Apple, mango chutney, optional raisins, and lemon balance the spiciness and lighten the heaviness of the meat. Some people use apricot jam for extra flavor.
5. Egg Custard Topping – Eggs, cream, and milk make a smooth and creamy custard to go on top. Season it with bay leaves and salt and pepper to taste, and you’ve got heaven in a casserole.

How to Make Bobotie

• Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or use a 10-inch oven-proof cast iron skillet.
• Soak Bread – In a medium bowl, mix milk with the bread to soften it. Set aside.
• Saute – Heat a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat, then add butter to melt it. When the butter melts, saute the onions and garlic for about 3 minutes, just until soft and fragrant.
• Spices – Next, stir in the spices: curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, coriander, and dried herbs. (Photo 1)
• Cook Meat – Add ground beef and herbs, stirring constantly to break it up, cooking until the meat is no longer pink. Remove from the stove. (Photo 2)
• Add Flavor – Add the meat mixture to the bowl with the bread mixture, then stir in the chutney, grated apple, lemon juice and zest, Worcestershire, and raisins (optional). Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Photos 3-4)
• Assemble – Pour the beef mixture into the greased casserole dish or deep 10-inch cast iron pan. Press the beef mixture down with the back of a spoon so the egg mixture stays afloat, forming a nice custardy top when baked.
• Bake at 350℉ (180℃) for around 40-50 minutes.
• Topping – Mix eggs, cream, milk, and a ¼ teaspoon of turmeric while the bobotie is baking.
• Bake Topping – Take the casserole from the oven and pour the egg mixture over the beef. Arrange the bay leaves on top. Return to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes (start checking after 15 minutes) or until the egg mixture sets.
• Serve – Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes, then serve with yellow rice and vegetables. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

1. Press the meat mixture down firmly before baking. That way, when you add the custard topping, it will stay on top instead of soaking down into the meat.
2. You can make the curry minced meat (ground beef mixture) ahead. Let it cool before transferring to an airtight container and into the fridge for 2-3 days.
3. Bobotie also freezes well. You can freeze it whole or cut it into serving-size squares and freeze them individually. Wrap it up well with plastic wrap to keep it airtight (if you have a vacuum sealer, that’s even better). You’ll have a ready-made dinner ready to thaw on a moment’s notice.

With What Do You Traditionally Serve Bobotie?

Bobotie is usually enjoyed with South African yellow rice, fried bananas, chutney, and some pickles. Some also serve roasted butternut squash, toasted coconut, and peas.

I had mine with some roasted baby carrots and basmati rice. But no matter what you serve it with, the star of this meal will always be bobotie. You can even eat it on its own! It’s sooo damn good that you’ll forget the rest.

Warning: Make sure you have someone to share this bobotie dish with, or you may regret eating the whole pan yourself. Blame it on all its marvelous flavors!

More Mouthwatering South African Recipes to Try

1. South African Grilled Cheese Sandwich
2. Mealie Cornbread
3. Crunchies
4. Pampoenkoekies
5. Malva Pudding

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in September 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video