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    Home » Recipes » South African recipes

    Bobotie - a traditional South African curry bake

    Published: Feb 13, 2020 · Modified: Aug 15, 2024 by VJ · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to recipe

    Bobotie is a traditional South African curry bake, similar to a meatloaf but baked in a savoury egg custard. It has a mild, slightly fruity taste and is normally served with a side dish of yellow rice and raisins. Bobotie is quick and easy to prepare and is the perfect dish to serve when need for something different to make for dinner.

    A blue serving dish of bobotie next to a bowl of yellow rice and a bowl of peas.
    Jump to:
    • What is Bobotie?
    • Why I think you'll love it
    • What you will need
    • What to do
    • How to make curry powder
    • What do I serve with bobotie?
    • How to make yellow rice with raisins
    • Bobotie FAQ
    • Save for later
    • Related recipes
    • 📋The recipe

    What is Bobotie?

    Bobotie (pronounced ba-boor-ti ) is a traditional South African dish, with a mild fruity curry flavour. It is made by frying a mixture of pork and beef mince with onions and spices, before stirring in a few sultanas and almonds. Then the bobotie is placed into the oven to bake. Halfway through the baking time, a mixture of beaten eggs and milk is poured over the dish before returning it to the oven until it has set.

    Bobotie is normally served with a side dish of yellow rice and raisins and a tomato and onion sambal. Some people like to sprinkle a little grated coconut over their bobotie or top it with a spoonful of chutney or a few sliced bananas. I like to serve it with a side helping of peas.

    The texture of bobotie is very similar to meatloaf. The meat is moist and juicy, perfectly complemented by the fruity flavour of the sultanas. The almonds add additional texture, while the spices provide a mild hint of curry. And the creaminess of the savoury egg custard adds a deliciously different element to the overall taste.

    Traditionally, bobotie as made by the Cape Malay community in southern Africa, contains chopped dried apricots. I find this makes the bobotie too sweet and for this reason, I substitute the apricots with grated carrots.

    Why I think you'll love it

    Quick and easy - bobotie is well known for being a quick and easy meal. From start to finish you can have this dish prepped and in the oven in only 20 minutes.

    Unique flavour - bobotie has a unique flavour profile in that it combines savoury mince with the sweetness of fruity curry. Combined with the creaminess of the savoury custard topping, this is truly a 'meal with a difference'.

    Mild or as spicy, the choice is yours - this dish is suitable for all palates, from young children to hardened fiery-curry eaters. You can easily adjust the heat by adding extra chilli - or leave the chilli out altogether. There's plenty of flavour in this dish however hot you choose to make it.

    Fusion of cultures - this dish has its roots in many cultures. African, Malaysian, Indian and Dutch influences all played a part in the origins of bobotie.

    Economical - bobotie only uses a few standard kitchen ingredients to produce a delicious meal, and you can stretch it even further by adding additional vegetables.

    There are many variations of bobotie. And as long as you stick to the basic method of frying the mince and onions, and baking the dish with a covering of egg custard, you can adjust the ingredients and spices to your own taste.

    Closeup of a helping of bobotie with yellow rice and peas.

    What you will need

    Equipment

    You will need a sharp knife, a chopping board, a cheese grater for preparing the vegetables, and a mixing bowl to combine the meat mixture.

    To fry the meat and vegetables you will need a large frying pan. And for baking the bobotie in the oven you will need a baking dish large enough to take the meat mixture plus the egg and milk mixture that gets poured over the meat.

    Ingredients

    **You can find the complete list of ingredients and full instructions for making bobotie on the printable recipe card at the end of this post**

    This recipe will easily feed 4 to 6 people (depending on appetite).

    Ingredients for bobotie.

    Mince - I used a mixture of pork and beef mince, but you could use all beef if you prefer. Get mince with a low-fat content (10% or less is ideal) because you don't want too much fat leaking out of the meat into the bobotie.

    Onion and carrot - the onion should be quite finely chopped because the mince is finely cut and you want the onion to blend in without large chunks of onion in this dish. The carrot should be grated for the same reason.

    Bread soaked in milk - this provides a little bulk and helps bind the mixture together. I've found that half a cup of Panko breadcrumbs does the job just as well.

    Fruit chutney or smooth apricot jam. I like to use my own homemade tomato chutney, but you can use your favourite brand. If you don't have fruit chutney in your cupboard you can use the same amount of apricot jam.

    Sultanas and almonds. The sultanas swell up during cooking, providing little pops of fruitiness in the finished dish. The almonds provide additional crunch and texture and should be finely chopped. You could use flaked almonds instead and then there's no need to chop them.

    Spices - you could use your favourite brand of curry powder (either mild, medium or hot). I like to mix my own curry powder because then I can adjust the heat. If you would like to mix your own curry powder, see How to make curry powder below.

    Lemon juice - which helps to balance the sweetness of the dish.

    Eggs and milk - mixed together to form a custard which is poured over the dish halfway through the baking time.

    Salt and pepper - to your own taste.

    Sunflower oil - used for frying the meat, onions and spices.

    Fresh coriander (not pictured) - I like to garnish the finished dish with a little chopped fresh coriander.

    What to do

    Ground meat, egg and spices in a mixing bowl.

    Soak the bread in milk then squeeze out the excess milk and place the bread in a bowl with the meat, lemon juices, spices and one egg.

    Bobotie mince mixed with spices and ready for frying.

    Mix thoroughly to ensure the spices are well distributed throughout the meat.

    Diced onions and grated carrots frying in a frying pan.

    Heat the oil in a large frying pan and stir-fry the onions and carrots on medium heat until the onions turn translucent.

    Bobotie mince and spices frying with carrots and onions in a frying pan.

    Push the carrots and onions to one side, add the meat mixture and continue to fry until the meat is no longer pink. Break up any large chunks of mince with a spatula.

    Sultanas, chutney and chopped almonds added to the bobotie mixture.

    Stir the meat and vegetables together, then add the sultanas, chopped almonds and chutney. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If there is a lot of liquid in the mixture, simmer on medium heat until it dries out a little. There should not be too much liquid in this dish.

    Bobotie mince in a baking dish.

    Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and cover the dish with a lid or a sheet of tin foil. Bake in a preheated oven (180C / 360F) for 40 minutes

    Egg and milk poured over half-baked bobotie in a baking dish.

    After 40 minutes, remove the dish from the oven and pour over a mixture of beaten egg and milk, seasoned with salt and pepper. Replace the dish in the oven (without a lid this time) and bake for a further 25 to 30 minutes until the custard has set.

    The completed dish of bobotie garnished with coriander.

    Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped coriander (optional) and serve hot with yellow rice and raisins and your choice of vegetables.

    If you'd like to be notified of new recipes, why not subscribe to my newsletter? To say thank you, you will receive a free recipe e-book containing some of my most popular cakes and desserts.

    How to make curry powder

    If you would like to make a basic curry powder, this is how to do it. You will need 2 to 3 tablespoons of this curry powder to make this bobotie recipe.

    You will need:

    • 2 tablespoons ground coriander
    • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
    • 2 tablespoons garam masala
    • 1 tablespoon turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

    Mix all the ingredients together and store in a screw-top jar with your other spices.

    This is a mild-flavoured curry powder - if you want a bit more heat then add more cayenne pepper.

    Note - this is just a basic curry powder which uses ingredients that are normally found in most curry powders. I haven't added other aromatics such as ginger, mustard, cardamom, cinnamon and fennel etc. Feel free to experiment and add other flavours to enhance the dish.

    Close up of a dish of bobotie garnished with chopped coriander.

    What do I serve with bobotie?

    Bobotje is normally served with yellow rice and raisins (see next section) but if you prefer you can serve it with plain white rice. See my recipes for rice baked in the oven or microwave rice if you are unsure of how to cook rice. For a deliciously different taste, try serving bobotie with spicy mushroom rice.

    Traditionally bobotie is served garnished with any (or all) of the following:

    • top with 1 teaspoon of fruit chutney and/or a few slices of bananas
    • sprinkle with 1 teaspoon grated coconut
    • a side dish of tomato and onion sambal, made by mixing the following ingredients:
      • 1 large fresh tomato (finely chopped)
      • 1 small onion (peeled and finely chopped)
      • a sprinkling of salt and pepper
      • ½ teaspoon sugar
      • 1 tablespoon white spirit vinegar. You can use white wine vinegar, but don't be tempted to use brown malted vinegar, the taste will be wrong.

    Bobotie goes well with a sweet vegetable such as peas or mashed sweet potato, but you could serve it with your vegetable of choice.

    A helping of bobotie on a white place alongside yellow rice and peas.

    How to make yellow rice with raisins

    If you would like to make yellow rice with raisins to go with the bobotie, here's how to do it. If your family doesn't like raisins then you can leave these out. I normally use basmati rice, but you can use any long-grain rice.

    Use your favourite method of cooking rice, but add approximately ½ teaspoon of turmeric to the rice with the water. Stir to mix through. If you are using raisins, add approximately 1 tablespoon of raisins per cup of rice.

    Be careful when adding the turmeric. If you add too much you will end up with orange rice instead of yellow rice. You are looking for a nice pale yellow colour.

    If you are cooking rice on the stove, place one cup into a pan, add ½ teaspoon turmeric, 1 tablespoon raisins and 1 teaspoon salt (or to your taste). Cover with 2 cups cold water. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan with a tightly-fitting lid and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes until all the water has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork and serve.

    Bobotie FAQ

    Can I freeze bobotie?

    I would not freeze the finished dish as the egg custard would be inclined to split on defrosting.
    However, you can freeze the cooked mince mixture (before it goes into the oven) for up to 3 months.
    To use, defrost in the fridge, then place the meat in a baking dish and follow the recipe instructions

    What do I do with leftovers?

    Store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    You can reheat the leftovers in the microwave and serve as a quick lunch.
    Bobotie makes a delicious filling for a toasted sandwich, or you could use it as a filling for curried dough balls.

    How can I vary this dish?

    There are many variations of bobotie. Here are just a few of the ways you can vary this dish.
    - Add 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce when you add the almonds and sultanas.
    - Substitute the carrot with grated apple or chopped apricots.
    - For a richer custard, use half milk and half cream beaten with the eggs.
    - Add 1 tablespoon of desiccated coconut along with the sultanas.
    - Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to the spice mix.

    Save for later

    If you would like to try bobotie yourself, why not pin this recipe to one of your Pinterest boards so you can find it easily?

    Alternatively, you can save the recipe by clicking on the floating heart icon on the right-hand side of the screen.

    Related recipes

    Visit my curry recipes page for other tasty curry recipes. Here are a few you might enjoy:

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    📋The recipe

    A blue serving dish of bobotie next to a bowl of yellow rice and a bowl of peas.

    Traditional South African Bobotie

    Bobotie is a traditional South African curry bake, similar to a meatloaf but baked in a savoury egg custard. It has a mild slightly fruity taste and is normally served with a side dish of yellow rice and raisins. Bobotie is quick and easy to prepare and is the perfect dish to serve when you are looking for something different to make for dinner.
    Recipe by: Veronica
    Main Course
    South African
    Calories 590
    Prep 20 minutes minutes
    Cook 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 - 6 people
    Print Pin Comment Bookmark Saved!
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    5 from 1 vote

    (Click the stars to rate this recipe)

    Equipment

    • Large frying pan with lid
    • Large baking dish
    • Sharp Knife
    • Chopping Board
    • Cheese grater

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounce 225 grams beef mince
    • 8 ounce 250 grams pork mince
    • 1 large onion peeled and finely diced
    • 1 large carrot grated
    • 2 slices bread soaked in
    • ¼ cup milk
    • 1 large egg to add to mince
    • 2 - 3 tablespoons curry powder or mild, or medium, to your own taste
    • ½ small lemon juiced
    • 2 tablespoons fruit chutney (or smooth apricot jam)
    • 2 tablespoons sultanas
    • 2 tablespoons almonds (chopped) or flaked almonds
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup milk
    • Salt to taste
    • Pepper to taste
    • 2 tablespoons sunflower oil for frying meat and onions
    • 1 tablespoon chopped coriander optional - for garnish

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 180°C / 360°F
    • Soak the bread in milk for a few minutes until the milk is absorbed, then squeeze out the milk.
      2 slices bread, ¼ cup milk
    • Place the meat in a mixing bowl and add the squeezed out bread. Add the curry powder, lemon juice and the egg. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well to combine. Set aside.
      8 ounce 225 grams beef mince, 8 ounce 250 grams pork mince, 1 large egg, 2 - 3 tablespoons curry powder, Salt, Pepper, ½ small lemon
    • Heat the oil in a frying pan and stir fry the diced onions and grated carrots on a medium heat until the onions start to turn translucent.
      1 large onion, 2 tablespoons sunflower oil, 1 large carrot
    • Add the mince mixture to the onions and carrots and continue to stir fry until the mince is well separated and no longer pink. Break up any clumps of mince with a spatula.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients (except the egg and milk) and stir thoroughly.
      2 tablespoons fruit chutney, 2 tablespoons almonds (chopped), 2 tablespoons sultanas
    • Let the mixture simmer with the lid off until most of the liquid has evaporated. The meat mixture should be quite dry when it is placed in the baking dish.
    • Taste for flavour and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Transfer the mixture to a deep baking dish and press down evenly.
    • Place the baking dish in the pre-heated oven, cover with a lid or a sheet of tin foil and bake for approximately 40 minutes.
    • Mix the egg with the milk, season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove the dish from the oven and pour in the egg and milk.
      2 large eggs, 1 cup milk
    • Replace the dish in the oven (without a lid this time) and bake for 25 - 30 minutes until the custard has set.
    • Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped coriander (optional) and serve hot with yellow rice and raisins and your choice of vegetables.

    Notes

    You can use either white, brown or wholwheat bread for this recipe.
    Substitutions:
    • Use ½ cup chopped dried apricots in place of the carrots
    • Use an equivalent amount of smooth apricot jam in place of the fruit chutney
    • Use mild, medium or hot curry powder (to your own taste)
    If the custard has not set after 30 minutes (ie the surface of the bake 'jiggles' when you touch it), leave the dish in the oven for a few minutes longer.
    The mince should not be too wet when it is placed into the baking dish.  Too much liquid in the mince will cause the egg custard not to set.
    Serve with white or yellow rice (see post for instructions on making yellow rice), a sweet vegetable (peas or sweet potato go well with this) and a side dish of tomato and onion sambal.  To make the sambal, chop equal quantities of fresh tomato and onion, mix with ½ teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon white vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
    The nutrition information has been calculated based on the assumption that this dish will serve 4 people.

    Nutrition

    Calories - 590kcal | Carbohydrates - 60.3g | Protein - 30.2g | Fat - 25.9g | Saturated Fat - 4.9g | Cholesterol - 158mg | Sodium - 755mg | Potassium - 533mg | Fiber - 4.2g | Sugar - 9.4g | Calcium - 178mg | Iron - 13mg

    I am not a nutritionist. The nutrition information has been calculated using an on-line calculator, and is intended for information and guidance purposes only. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should consider calculating it yourself, using your preferred tool.

    Unless otherwise stated, a cup is the standard US cup containing 240 ml. In all my recipes this cup is assumed to hold 140g of flour. For help converting other ingredients between cups, grams, ounces and other measures, see my recipe conversion calculator.
    All my recipes are developed and tested at sea-level. For tips on adjusting recipes for high altitudes see my post on baking at high altitudes.
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    About VJ

    Before I started my food blog I was an IT Consultant. Now that I've swapped an office for a kitchen I have a lot more time to spend on things that interest me such as trying out new recipes. Most of my cooking is based around quick and easy meals, mostly made from scratch, using everyday pantry ingredients.

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