Bobotie

Name: Bobotie
Ingredients: 62,5ml (1/4 cup) raisins; 62,5 ml (1/4 cup) soft, dried apricots, chopped; 1 kg minced meat, beef or mutton; 2,5cm thick slice of bread; 500 ml (2 cups) milk; 30 ml (2 tablespoons) butter; 1 large onion, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 5 ml (1 teaspoon) fresh ginger, finely chopped; 30 ml (2 tablespoons) vinegar; 10 ml (2 taespoons) apricot jam; 10 ml (2 teaspoons) salt; 2,5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) pepper; 15 ml (1 tablespoon) mild curry powder; 2 eggs; 4 bay or lemon leaves

Bobotie is a traditional South African speciality. It is a fruity minced meat bake with a mild curry flavour and topped with a milk and egg custard. Serve with yellow rice, coconut and chutney.

Published 7 October 2025

Method

Preheat oven to 160 ºC (325 ºF). Grease a square ovenproof baking dish.
Cover raisins and apricots with cold water and soak for a few hours.
Place minced meat in a mixing bowl. Soak bread in a ½ cup of the milk. Squeeze it out and crumb it into the mince. Mix well.
Melt butter and brown the onions. Add garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the fruit to the onion, mix reserved fruit liquid with the vinegar, apricot jam, salt, pepper and curry powder. Bring to the boil and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add the onion mixture to the minced meat and mix very well. Place the meat into the oven dish.
Whisk the eggs and milk together, and pour it over the meat. Insert the bay or lemon leaves and bake for 1½ hours.