Family Bobotie Bake

South African bobotie with spiced minced beef, fruit and a golden savoury egg custard topping.

Jump to ingredients | Jump to method

The sweet-savoury balance is characteristic of bobotie; the egg topping is poured over only after the meat filling has baked and settled.

Ingredients

• 800 g minced beef
• 1 onion (diced)
• 2 tbsp neutral oil
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 0.5 tsp ground turmeric
• 2 tbsp apricot jam
• 2 tbsp chutney
• 60 g raisins
• 2 slices white bread
• 350 ml milk
• 3 eggs
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt

Step-by-step method

1. Heat the oven to 190°C conventional or 170°C fan. Soak the bread in 150 ml of the milk for 5 minutes, then squeeze lightly and mash.
2. Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onion for 6 minutes. Add the garlic, curry powder and turmeric for 30 seconds.
3. Add the beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned. Stir in the mashed bread, jam, chutney, raisins, lemon juice and salt.
4. Transfer to a baking dish, press level and bake for 20 minutes.
5. Whisk the remaining 200 ml milk with the eggs. Remove the dish from the oven and pour the custard evenly over the meat. Lay the bay leaves on top.
6. Bake for another 20–25 minutes until the custard is set and golden.
7. Rest for 10 minutes before serving with yellow rice and chutney.