Bobotie Recipe – A hearty, comforting South African dish made of curried minced meat topped with milk and egg custard and baked to perfection. An easy, tasty dish with punchy yet on-point flavors that are perfect for special occasions and holidays.
Let me shout out to one of our Facebook readers for suggesting this fabulous dish the whole family will enjoy. It’s been on my list since last year’s holiday, and finally, it’s officially on the blog. Woohoo!
As cute as the name sounds, this dish here isn’t pure cutesy cute at all; it’s a big-time dish and often considered South Africa’s national dish.
This dish is jam-packed with complex flavors and textures guaranteed to excite and satisfy your palate. The savory minced meat complements the custardy milky topping well. Although not too spicy, this version has a kick. 😋
Content…What Is 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
- Binder – Bread soaked in milk provides a great binder and extra moisture for a juicy meatloaf-style casserole.
- 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.
- Meat – Lean ground beef is the hearty base for bobotie, but you could use ground lamb, pork, or even venison.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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
Bobotie
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Ingredients
Spicy Meat Filling
- 2 tablespoons (28g) butter
- 2 medium onions, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon (15g) garlic, minced
- 2 slices bread
- ½ cup (118ml) milk
- 1½ tablespoons (10-11g) curry powder
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) turmeric
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) ground coriander
- 2 pounds (900g) lean ground beef
- 1½ tablespoons (2-3g) dried herbs (thyme, basil, oregano, etc.)
- 1 large apple, grated
- ⅓-½ cup (90-136g) fruit chutney
- ¼ cup (50g) raisins (optional)
- ½-1 lemon, juice and zest
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) Worcestershire sauce
Savory Egg Custard Topping
- 3 eggs
- 5-6 bay leaves
- ½ cup (118ml) cream
- ½ cup (118ml) milk
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or use a 10-inch oven-proof cast iron skillet.
- In a medium bowl, mix milk with the bread to soften it. Set aside.
- Heat a large saucepan or skillet over medium, then add butter to melt it. When the butter melts, saute the onions and garlic for about 3 minutes, just until soft and fragrant.
- Next, stir in the spices: curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, coriander, and dried herbs.
- Add ground beef and herbs, stirring constantly to break it up, cooking until the meat is no longer pink. Remove from the stove.
- Add it to a bowl with the bread mixture, then stir in the chutney, grated apple, lemon juice and zest, Worcestershire, and raisins (if desired). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Pour the beef mixture into the greased baking dish or 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.
- While the bobotie is baking, mix eggs, cream, milk, and a ¼ teaspoon of turmeric.
- Then, take the meat out of the oven and pour the egg mixture over the meat.
- Arrange the bay leaves on top of it. Return to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes (start checking after 15 minutes ) or until the egg mixture sets.
- Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes, then serve with yellow rice and vegetables.
Tips & Notes:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Lucy says
WOW! This is absolutely delicious and was enjoyed by all. As recommended I served it with African yellow rice and some steamed vegetables. I will make this again for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Amina says
Yayy! Wonderfull, Thank you so much for your love.
Megan Black says
Made this last night for a small international-themed NYE dinner party — it was the hit of the party. We also made your Malva Pudding recipe and I couldn’t stop eating it. So good! We didn’t need many modifications, except I was pretty heavy handed with the orange zest in the Malva Pudding and the mango chutney and Worcestershire sauce in the Bobotie and those were all good choices 🙂
Jane Harkins says
I found this in your collection of recipes for ground pork, not for ground beef. Which do you like better?
ImmaculateBites says
I like it with Beef. 🙂
Makgotso Seziba says
I love this recipe and my family enjoy it
ImmaculateBites says
Nice! Happy to know that! 🙂
Eunice says
This is such an easy recipe and really tasty. I replaced the cream with milk and it also taste great!
Immaculate Bites says
Thank you for sharing, Eunice! 🙂
Robin and Bob Young says
Loved this recipe and so did the family. Boisefoodiegiild
Immaculate Bites says
Thank you, Robin and Bob!
Sue Matheson says
Lived in SA for 50yrs so loved this recipe. Think next time I’ll let the custard seep through the mince though. Thanks for a taste of my home.
Nancy says
I am planted based.my boyfriend is not. I am an adventurous eater and he is not. I substituted the beef for a mushroom/ walnut blend And cream/ milk with coconut cream and milk. We both LOVED it. NO LEFTOVeRS! Decadent,creamy, but with the right kick to keep us coming back For more!
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks for the feedback.
James Mansion says
I liked this, having been introduced to Bobotie by my mother. But hers is more like an indian keema with egg added, and this was very light and fluffy somehow – perhaps from the defrosted frozen mince I used, or the apple, or the bread. And I was generous with a hot curry powder, but it was still mild. I used mango sauce, some fruit chutney, raisins, and a dozen quartered dried apricots. Its very nice, but I will try for hotter next time.
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks for the feedback. Glad hear it worked out well for you.
Nell says
Wat een heerlijk recept!
ImmaculateBites says
Thank you!
Farah Jones says
This recipe is fantastic. My husband who’s a South African who grew up having babotie thought this dish was absolutely delicious, thanks to this recipe. I will be making it regularly.
Imma Adamu says
Thank you so much, Farah!
Jason says
This is one of my favourite dishes, and with an Afrikaans (South African) wife, I am spoilt. The origins of Bobotie are in fact Cape Malayan, and not Roman, from settlers/slaves whom were brought to the Cape Town, several hundreds of years ago. It’s traditional eaten with yellow rice, and definitely with Chutney (Mrs Ball is the prefered brand). We eat it hot or cold, both are amazing. Enjoy…
Mary says
When you say you can make the meat curry, cool, then save in fridge, is that before and after adding the chutney, bread, raisins, apple?
Mary says
I meant before OR after adding chutney…
Lynn says
When you say you can make the meat curry, cool, then save in fridge, is that before and after adding the chutney, bread, raisins, apple?
ImmaculateBites says
It works both ways before or after .
Monty says
Fabulous. Everyone had seconds. I will make it again! Maybe with half beer and half lamb. I researched several recipes online and picked this one; however, I was timid about the amount of curry powder and dried herbs, so I cut them in half. My dish was definitely not too spicy. I will add more next time. I also added 1/4 cup of toasted sliced almonds.
BTW, the instructions say to add 1/4 tsp of turmeric to custard mixture, (which i did) but that ingredient is not listed under “Savory Egg Custard Topping”
Imma Adamu says
Oh wow, thank you!
Samantha says
Made this tonight, was amazingly delicious. My mince was a little bit more saucy but thr flavors are divine.
ImmaculateBites says
Glad to hear it worked out well.