bobotie recipe – A hearty and comforting South African dish of curried ground meat topped with milk and custard and grilled to perfection. Easy and delicious dishes that pack a punch but are on point, perfect for special occasions and holidays.
I would like to give a shout out to one of my Facebook readers who suggested this amazing dish that the whole family will enjoy. It’s been on my list since last year’s holiday, and it’s finally officially posted on the blog. Woooooo!
As cute as the name suggests, this dish is not purely cute. It is a famous dish and is often considered South Africa’s national dish.
This dish is packed with complex flavors and textures and is sure to excite and satisfy your taste buds. The fragrant minced meat goes well with the custard milk topping. Although not too spicy, this version has a kick. 😋
What is bobotie?
bobotie (pronounced) ba-BOOR-tea) It has quite a history. The ancient Romans enjoyed a similar dish, and it’s likely the original version (yes, imagine nibbling on this meatloaf while wearing calf-length Roman sandals). The meat was seasoned with pine nuts, pepper, celery seeds, and asafoetida (a strong aromatic spice with a unique flavor). Next, I topped it with a mixture of eggs and milk.
Today, the traditional South African bobotie recipe is much simpler, using curry powder and chopped onions. Some people add almonds. Traditionally, boboti is filled with dried fruits such as raisins and sultanas, and is often served with walnuts, chutney, and bananas.
Materials needed
- binder – Bread soaked in milk provides an excellent binding agent and extra moisture for a juicy meatloaf-like casserole.
- seasoning – Sauté onions and garlic in butter until fragrant. Then add curry powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander, dried herbs, and Worcestershire sauce for classic African flavors.
- meat – Lean ground meat is a hearty base for bobotie, but you can also use ground lamb, pork, or even venison.
- fruitiness – apple, mango chutneyoptional raisins, and lemon balance out the spiciness and lighten the heaviness of the meat. Some people use apricot jam for added flavor.
- Chawanmushi topping – Make a smooth, creamy custard with eggs, cream, and milk and serve on top. Season with bay leaves and salt and pepper and you have heaven in your casserole.
How to make bobotie
- preheat Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or use a 10-inch oven-safe cast-iron skillet.
- soak the bread – In a medium bowl, mix the bread with the milk to soften it. Let’s set it aside.
- Saute – Heat a large pot or skillet over medium heat, add the butter and let it melt. Once the butter has melted, sauté the onion and garlic until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- spices – Next, stir in the spices like curry powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and dried herbs. (Photo 1)
- cook meat – Add the ground beef and herbs and cook, stirring constantly to break up, until the meat is no longer pink. Remove from stove. (Photo 2)
- add flavor – Add the meat mixture to the bowl with the bread mixture, then stir to combine. Chutneygrated apple, lemon juice and zest, Worcestershire, and raisins (optional). Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Photos 3-4)
- assemble – Pour beef mixture into a greased casserole dish or 10-inch deep cast-iron pot. Pressing down on the beef mixture with the back of a spoon will keep the egg mixture floating and form a nice custard-like surface when baked.
- bake 350℉ (180℃) for approximately 40-50 minutes.
- topping – While the bobotis are baking, mix together the eggs, cream, milk, and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric.
- bake the toppings – Remove the casserole from the oven and pour the egg mixture over the beef. Arrange the bay leaves on top. Return to oven and bake for another 20 minutes (check after 15 minutes) or until egg mixture is set.
- serve – Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving. yellow rice And vegetables. enjoy!
recipe notes
- Press meat mixture firmly into place before baking. This way, when you add the custard topping, it will stay on top of the meat instead of soaking into it.
- You can make curry soboro (ground beef mix) ahead of time. Once cool, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- Bobotie also freezes well. You can freeze them whole or cut them into bite-sized squares and freeze them individually. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap to keep it airtight (even better if you have a vacuum sealer). You’ll have a ready-made dinner ready to thaw.
What is traditionally served with boboti?
Bobotie is usually Yellow rice from South Africa, fried banana, Chutneyand pickles. Some offer roasted butternut squash, toasted coconut, and peas.
I also had some roasted baby carrots and basmati rice. But no matter what you serve with it, the star of this meal is always boboti. You can eat it as is! It’s so great that you forget about the rest.
caveat: Make sure you have someone to share this boboti dish with. Otherwise, you might regret eating the whole pot yourself. All of that amazing flavor is due to it!
More mouth-watering South African recipes to try
- south african grilled cheese sandwich
- mealy cornbread
- Crunchy
- Pampoenko Keith
- malva pudding
See how to make
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This blog post was originally published in September 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and videos.
