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    You are here: Home / Cooking Times / c) 1 - 2 hrs / Bobotie

    Bobotie

    17 March 2018 - By Michelle Minnaar
    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Fancy some bobotie? It's time to indulge in the exotic spices and explore the amazing cuisine of South Africa yet again.

    Bobotie

    Sometimes I feel that my motherland's cuisine is slightly over-looked. Therefore, I hope that my blog inspires people to cook more South African dishes.

    One bite and I'm certain that bobotie might become one of your favourite dishes when it comes to using minced beef. Many expats turn to this beef casserole when seeking comfort so far away from home.

    This recipe is perfect if you feel like making a hearty family dinner and serving it with other traditional South African dishes.  

    Oh, and don't forget a imperative bottle of red South African wine! That rich and full bodied wine goes hand-in-hand combination with the punchy flavours of bobotie.

    being lactose intolerant

    Do you suffer from food intolerances or allergies such as lactose intolerance? If you do, then you must know all about missing out on food that contains lactose, let alone eating dairy products.

    As some of you may know, I suffer from various food intolerances.  So, not only do I know all about not being allowed to eat delicious food that contains dairy, but I am a frequent user of this phrase - 'I'm sorry I can't eat that'.

    It's always a bit awkward to be considered a "difficult" eater, and everyone has to accommodate, whether it's in social situations such as dates, corporate or family dinners. Although this is quite embarrassing, lactose does have negative effects on my body.

    My consequences for eating dairy are that I get a build up of phlegm, my nose becomes congested and my digestive system bloats to high heavens. Others suffer from extremely bad headaches or intestinal inflammation. According to some people, lactose can be a big energy drainer, which can ultimately affect their mood and well-being. Honestly, ever since I've left out lactose from my diet, I've been feeling much more energised and downright happier.
    However, that still doesn't solve the problem of not being able to eat meals that contain milk or lactose in dishes. (Don't worry about this bootie though, alternative milks can be used!) I've tried out goat's milk but it had the same after effects. So this is where LactoJoy comes in handy, for when matters aren't in your control and you don't want to suffer.
    Ingredients Bobotie

    lactojoy

    Lactojoy is all about living life to the fullest, which includes eating strawberries WITH cream. To do so, Lactojoy offers a chewable lactase tablet which is of the highest quality and at the same time won't create a massive dent in your budget.

    Lactojoy is free of chemical additives and only consists of lactase and plant based release agents. That means the are no animal components, sweeteners or colouring agents. Due to its high dosage of 14,500 FFC units, it is a highly effective tablet as all the milk sugars will break down in your meal.

    If you are lactose intolerant and you need Lactojoy, you can easily order it via your smartphone or tablet. All deliveries within the EU are free of charge, so why not make use of this amazing opportunity?

    Lactojoy

    what is bobotie

    Some consider bobotie to be the national dish of South Africa. Despite of the long list of ingredients it is quite easy to make, and once you have it in the oven, you can use the time to make delicious side dishes.

    The dish itself bears resemblance to the Greek moussaka or British shepherd’s pie. So if you like these dishes, I am confident that you will like my bobotie as well.

    In essence, bobotie is a curried mixture of minced meat, dried fruits and nuts that are covered in an egg and milk mixture. The dish is then finished off in the oven.

    Almonds Raisins Spice

    history of bobotie

    The exact origin of the dish remains fuzzy to this day. However, it is documented that the Dutch settlers brought a similar dish with them to South Africa in the 17th century.  The recipe was adopted especially by the Cape Malay community and was then adjusted to use the spices and ingredients locally available.

    The word bobotie supposedly comes from the Malayan word 'boemboe', meaning 'curry spices'. Given the exotic flavour of the dish, this would make sense.

    The exact ingredients can vary a bit from recipe to recipe. Families tend to have their own particular version. Some people like to use more dried fruit than only the raisins, and others prefer to leave out the almonds.

    Meat Casserole South African

    variations

    Traditionally the bobotie is made from either lamb or beef mince. Lamb does have a specific flavour that not everybody likes and I find beef to be a more all-round enjoyable flavour for everyone in the family.

    In terms of spicing, bobotie is an exotically seasoned dish but not spicy. Of course, if you can’t live without your chili you can add a pinch, but it should not be dominant in any way.

    Along with the raisins you can also use dried apricots, chopped in smaller pieces. If you don’t like the idea of almonds mixed with mince, you can leave these out or replace with other nuts.

    I have heard of families topping of their bobotie with walnuts. If anyone suffers from a nut allergy, it's best you omit nuts altogether.

    Another welcome addition is ginger. Some of the earliest recipes included ginger and some families still use it. Also, never underestimate a good pinch of ground cinnamon.

    Geelrys Pumpkin

    what to serve with bobotie

    You need something to suck up all that juicy flavours from the bobotie, which is why it simply must be served with geelrys (yellow rice). A typical South African side dish for meats and stews. You can learn how to make it here.

    Some vegetables as a side is also essential to complete the meal. It could be something as simple as green beans or a green salad.

    Or, you can make something equally exotic in flavour such as cumin roast carrots or something fresher like my mung bean salad. Or, for a more hearty option, you can serve it with boereboontijes.

    Don't forget to check out other South African main courses, such as denningsvleis or ham en kaas souttert.

    What is your favourite South African recipe?

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    Bobotie

    Bobotie


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 1 hours 30 minutes
    • Yield: 8 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Bobotie is a South African recipe made with beef mince. Indulge in the exotic flavours of the curry spices, dried fruit, nuts and the texture and richness of the minced meat. Serve with geelrys, boereboontjies and a glass of delicious red South African wine.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 slice white bread
    • 250ml (1 cup) milk
    • 1kg (2.2lbs) beef mince
    • 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
    • 125ml (½ cup) sultanas or seedless raisins
    • 125ml (½ cup) blanched almonds, whole or slivered
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) apricot jam
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) fruit chutney
    • 30ml (2 tbsp) lemon juice
    • 30ml (2 tbsp) curry powder
    • 10ml (2 tsp) turmeric
    • 10ml (2 tsp) salt
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) oil
    • 3 large eggs
    • 4 bay leaves

    Instructions

    1. Soak the bread in the milk, then squeeze it dry and reserve the milk.
    2. In a large bowl mix the bread, beef, onion, sultanas, almonds, jam, chutney, lemon juice, curry powder, turmeric and salt.
    3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meat mixture lightly. Turn it out into a ovenproof casserole dish.
    4. Beat the eggs with the reserved milk and pour the mixture over the meat.
    5. Garnish the top of the mixture with the bay leaves and bake at 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4 for 50 minutes or until set.
    6. Serve with Geelrys (Yellow Rice) and vegetables.

    Notes

    • If you are lactose intolerant you can use alternatives such as almond, soy or rice milk.
    • In this South African dish, there are many different bay leaf substitutes you can use in it's place so feel free to experiment.
    • Prep Time: 30 minutes
    • Cook Time: 60 minutes
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Bake
    • Cuisine: South African

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 362
    • Sugar: 5.2 g
    • Sodium: 449 mg
    • Fat: 15.6 g
    • Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 11.2 g
    • Fiber: 1.9 g
    • Protein: 43.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 184 mg

    Keywords: bobotie, south african recipes, what to serve with bobotie, South African mince recipes

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    Bobotie

    P.S. This is a sponsored post. 

    More c) 1 - 2 hrs

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    Comments

    1. Tracy Nixon

      March 18, 2018 at 10:50 am

      I love karoo lamb cutlets !

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • michelle

        March 25, 2018 at 8:50 pm

        Nice!!!

        Reply
    2. Solange

      March 18, 2018 at 9:52 pm

      Traditional bobotie.

      Reply
      • michelle

        March 25, 2018 at 8:51 pm

        love it too 🙂

        Reply
    3. Leila Benhamida

      March 20, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      South African chicken cooked in lemon juice and garlic

      Reply
      • michelle

        March 25, 2018 at 8:54 pm

        nom nom.. love garlic and love lemon

        Reply
    4. Kyla Matton Osborne | 24 Carrot Diet

      April 18, 2018 at 6:26 am

      I love shepherd's pie, so this dish is very appealing to me. I found it interesting to read the directions and spot the little differences in the method of preparation. It sounds delicious!

      Reply
      • michelle

        April 28, 2018 at 9:21 am

        thanks Kyla

        Reply
    5. Ishani Nath

      April 18, 2018 at 3:23 pm

      Such an interesting recipe. Got to know so much about Bobotie. You got some great pictures. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • michelle

        April 28, 2018 at 9:25 am

        thanks Ishani 🙂

        Reply
    6. Tiffany

      April 19, 2018 at 1:33 am

      Oh my, looks really delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe, very informative ♥️ ♥️
      Tiffany

      Reply
      • michelle

        April 28, 2018 at 9:26 am

        Thanks Tiffany! Will definitely check it out! 🙂

        Reply

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    about michelle

    Welcome to my eclectic collection of recipes from all four corners of the world. I hope to inspire you to get into the kitchen and never eat a boring meal ever again. Want to know more?

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