Repost request October 2024: Friends and family frequently ask for me to make this recipe and my kids make it for their partners whenever possible. It is possibly the most requested recipe along with the oxtail recipe Do yourself a favour and make this bobotie recipe, it is fantastic and extremely simple.
Updated April 2021. Bobotie is classic Cape Malay that is very morish. The whole family makes it, from Johannesburg to Cape Town, to Stellenbosch and even those we miss so much in Amsterdam. The recipe gets updated from time to time so although it has comments older than the published date, it just means there was a little recipe tweak.
These ingredients make enough for 6 and like any curry dish often seems to taste better the following day, so keep a little aside if you can. This is one of my all time favorite recipes that you can pick at all day long, never fails to get compliments and is as simple as pie to make. It’s a classic bobotie recipe!
What you need
1kg mince
2 medium onions thinly sliced
1 slice white bread
250ml milk
3 eggs
1 tablespoon mild curry powder
1 tablespoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
25ml vinegar
half a cup seedless raisins (If you really don’t like raisins leave them out but it is highly recommended not to leave them out)
4 bay leaves
3 tablespoons fruit chutney
2 teaspoons turmeric
The Process
In a medium to hot pan cook the onions until soft, then add the mince and brown, mixing well to combine the onions.
While this is going on dip the bread in milk and Mash it up in a bowl with a metal fork.
Put 1 egg, half a cup of milk and the bayleaves aside.
Mix all the other ingredients together and then combine with the mince, allowing it to cook and the flavours to combine for about 5 minutes or. You will need to give it plenty of attention, ensuring that all of the flavours are well combined and the kitchen smells wonderful.
Place this mixture into a greased oven proof dish and bake at 180 Celsius for half an hour.
Beat the remaining milk and eggs that you put aside earlier and pour over meat mixture. Float the bay leaves on the top and bake for another half an hour.
Done and delicious. If you like bobotie, you are going to love the Sosatie recipe.
I was wondering what would be good side dishes to serve with this to compliment the flavours?
Hi Abigail, I like to serve it with some yellow rice
https://cookbook.co.za/vegetables/yellow-rice/
and some cucumber chopped up and mixed with yoghurt and a grind of salt and black pepper but you cannot go wrong with a crisp salad and some french loaf on the side.
Happy days G
I just want to confirm – do you mix the “mashed” bread in with the rest of the ingredients when you add to the mince, or when do you add the bread mixture?
Hi Nicky, yes you add it in with “the rest of the ingredients’. Enjoy it G
Hi there
Do you mix the milk that you dipped the bread in, into the mixture or do you squeeze the milk from the bread before adding…?
Thanks
Monique
Hi Monique, there are 2 methods you can use 1. Dip the bread (dont soak it) and mash it as I do or 2. soak the bread and then squeeze it. You want it to be wet but not oozing milk. Cheers for now G
I made this last night but used the low GI seed bread which mad for an interesting ‘wholeness’ . I also added crushed almond slivers and a little chilli . It gave it a nice texture , deep nutty flavour and a kick !
Boyfriend is mad about it so it’s a winner !
Thats fantastic, making these recipes your own is what it’s all about. Lucky boyfriend.. Cheers for now G
I’m going to make this for my boyfriend tonight ! I’m excited . Being on a no carb diet this is the perfect home cooked meal !
Hope you enjoyed it Tarryn-Lee, cheers for now G
mmm sounds and looks yummy and nice and simple to make will definately give it a try!
Great stuff Vicky, you are going to love it. Have a fabulous long weekend G
Replace the sugar with apricot jam and twirl lemon leaves like periscopes into the mince it makes a great difference.
That sounds really interesting barbara, is that instead of the bay leaves or in addition… I’m loving the idea, will try it next time. Have a great weekend G
Hi Graham,
Its me again. I must say, I absolutely love this site!!
I made this last night and it came out stunning. I used butternut instead of mince because I cannot afford to buy mince at this point, but it came out just as good.
Thank you sooooooooooo much!!
Please keep up the good work.
Great idea Bronwyn, you are so welcome, glad you are enjoying the site and special thanks for the encouragement
Oh wow all my favorites, including Malva pudding…. See you soon.