What is Bobotie?
Bobotie (pronounced bow·buh·tai) is a deliciously aromatic beef curry casserole dish with a combination of complex flavors and textures- salty, savory, sweet, etc. This recipe mostly consists of:
- Meat (typically beef)
- Egg
- Milk-soaked bread
- Curry-based spices
- Bay leaves
- Dried fruits
It is difficult to compare this dish to other similar recipes. Perhaps some might call it similar to a meat casserole, others would compare it to quiche, and some might call it a giant omelet. If it were tomato-based rather than egg-based, it might be similar (at least in preparation) to Shakshuka. Regardless of what you call it, this curry spiced meat recipe is sure to impress at a brunch pot luck or act as a breakfast meal prep for the rest of the week. It’s very versatile and pairs well with other breakfast dishes.
Origin of Bobotie
This is somewhat controversial. Some people say it dates back to Roman times as it is similar to an ancient recipe called Patinam ex lacte.
In South Africa, this dish seems to date back to the 17th century. Here at this time, South Africa was experiencing a fusion of cuisines from around the world, where people experimented with different spices, different preparations, etc. Some of the spices and techniques used in South African Bobotie seemed to have spread all the way from Indonesia.
Evolution of this Bobotie dish
Over the years, Bobotie has evolved, with chefs experimenting with different spice blends in particular although the gist of the recipe has remained the same. Whereas initial recipes were calling for spices like ginger and majoram, it is now typically curry-based.
By this point, Bobotie’s popularity has increased over the years and is now widely considered to be the National Dish of South Africa. Although we haven’t been able to make a visit there ourselves yet, it is reportedly commonly served in restaurants and cafes across the country.
Variations of Bobotie
Different recipes call for subtle differences in preparations. By no means are we experts on the topic but this variation seems to be popular. Some other recipes call for different types of meat like pork or lamb so feel free to experiment! If you prefer dishes like this to be spicy, feel free to add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. However, if you want to stick with authenticity, try serving it with sambal, an Indonesian red pepper paste.
Note that we used a cast iron skillet for our bobotie recipe but other people might use different cooking vessels such as a casserole dish. However, we like using the cast iron since it can go on both the stovetop and oven. If you don’t yet have a cast iron pan (a must-have in every kitchen in our opinion!), you can find one here.
To accompany this savory bobotie recipe, feel free to also make it with rice or vegetables on the side.
Other African food recipes
If you liked this Bobotie recipe, make sure to check out some of our other African food recipes like Moroccan Harissa-Glazed Chicken Wings or our compilation of 6 Easy Authentic Ethiopian Recipes.
Bobotie (South African Beef Casserole)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground lamb
- 2 onions diced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 4 slices white bread preferably stale, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tbsp butter
- 5 eggs
- 8 bay leaves
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp masala or curry powder
- 2 tbsp apricot jam or chutney
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Soak the bread chunks in milk for ~10 minutes and then drain excess milk, reserving the bread for later.
- In a large pan with some olive oil on medium heat, saute the onion for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Now stir in the meat, breaking it up as it cooks. When the meat is starting to turn golden, add the turmeric, masala (or curry powder), 3 bay leaves and apricot jam. Stir and cook for another 2 minutes before adding 1 cup water and letting it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- At this point, transfer the mixture into a baking dish, mix in the milk-soaked bread chunks, and add a few extra bay leaves. In a cup or bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs until combined. Gently pour this mixture over the meat mixture. Cook in oven for ~30 minutes. Serve warm.
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