Bobotie (upper right). The national dish of South Africa is much like a moussaka.
“May I Have the Recipe”
Some years ago, I was served a delightful South African dish called Bobotie. I got the recipe from my hostess and made it a few times before misplacing the scrap of paper I’d written it on. What a pleasant surprise to find it this week—like coming upon an old friend after a long absence.
A Lot of Goodness in This Ancient Dish
I immediately put the recipe on my list of easy, farm entrees. Unlike too many casseroles, the much-revered dish of ancient Rome, has a number of good-for-you ingredients: apple, almonds, turmeric, lemon juice, eggs, curry, raisins, milk, ground beef or lamb.
Below is my friend’s recipe. There are two very similar ones in The New York Times—here and here. Like meatloaf, Bobotie has many versions.
But don’t let the number of ingredients keep you from trying this South African masterpiece. It all comes together quite easily.
Bobotie
Ingredients:
- 4 Tbs. butter
- 2 onions
- 3 Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 1/2 Tbs. curry powder
- 3 lbs. ground beef and lamb combined, or just beef
- 3 oz. flaked almonds
- 4 oz. golden raisins
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric
- Juice of 1/2 lemon plus grated rind
- 1 1/2 Tbs. wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 Tbs. mango chutney
- Salt and pepper
- 4-5 slices of white bread
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 eggs beaten
Directions:
Melt the butter in a large skillet, and sauté the onions, apples and garlic. Add the curry powder and mix well. Add the meat (if your lamb/beef is not lean, brown it in a separate pan and pour off the fat). Combine cooked meat with the almonds, raisins, turmeric, lemon juice, vinegar, mango chutney. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Soak the bread in the milk until it is saturated, then squeeze out. Add the soaked bread and 1 beaten egg to the meat mixture, and spread in a well-buttered baking dish. Beat the remaining milk with the other 2 eggs, and pour over the meat.
Bake at 375 degrees until mixture is set and the top is lightly brown. Serves 8.
