Bobotie

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.

Course Main

Cuisine African

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Baking Time 55

Total Time 1 15

Servings

Calories 584kcal

Author Imma

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.

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.

Nutrition