Name: Bobotie
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: South Africa, Southern Africa
Ingredients: 1 kg beef mince; 2 whole onions, finely diced; 2 slices white bread, soaked in milk; 2 tbsp curry powder; 1 tsp turmeric, ground; 3 tbsp fruit chutney; 60 g sultanas; 4 whole bay leaves; 3 whole eggs, beaten; 200 ml milk

Bobotie

South Africa's beloved national dish â€” spiced curried mince baked under a creamy egg custard topping, with a sweet-savory flavor from raisins, chutney, and turmeric.

Country

South Africa

Region

Southern Africa

Time

70 min

Serves

Level

medium

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Bobotie traces its roots to the Cape Malay community of Cape Town, descendants of Southeast Asian workers brought to the Cape in the 17th century. The dish blends Indonesian-inspired spices with African and Dutch culinary traditions, creating something uniquely South African. It has been the country's national dish since 1999 and remains a staple at family gatherings across the rainbow nation.

What the dish tastes like

South Africa's beloved national dish â€” spiced curried mince baked under a creamy egg custard topping, with a sweet-savory flavor from raisins, chutney, and turmeric.

When to cook it

Best for Family dinner, with a medium cooking level and about 70 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Yellow rice with raisins and a green salad

Soak the bread

Tear the bread slices into pieces and soak in 100ml milk for 10 minutes. Squeeze out excess milk and set aside, reserving the milk.

Soak bread 10:00

Cook the meat filling

Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Fry the onions until golden, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder and turmeric, stirring for 1 minute. Add the mince and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.

Brown mince 10:00

Add flavor

Stir in the soaked bread, chutney, sultanas, salt, and pepper. Mix well and cook for another 3 minutes until everything is combined. Remove from heat.

The soaked bread helps bind the mixture and keeps it moist during baking.

Combine 03:00

Assemble the dish

Preheat oven to 180Â°C. Spoon the meat mixture into a greased oven-safe dish and press down evenly. Tuck bay leaves into the top of the meat.

Make the custard

Whisk together the eggs and remaining milk with a pinch of turmeric. Pour evenly over the meat filling.

Adding a pinch of turmeric to the custard gives it a beautiful golden color.

Bake

Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until the custard is set and golden brown on top.

Bake bobotie 40:00

Serve

Let the bobotie rest for 5 minutes, then serve with yellow rice, sambals, and a side salad.

Traditional accompaniments include banana slices, coconut flakes, and chutney as sambals.

Bobotie

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Step-by-step instructions

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