Southern Africa · Main

Bobotie (South African Spiced Mince Bake)

Name: Bobotie (South African Spiced Mince Bake)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: South Africa
Ingredients: 800 g lean minced beef or lamb; 2 piece thick slices white bread, crusts removed; 300 ml full-cream milk, divided; 2 piece medium yellow onions, finely diced; 2 clove garlic, minced; 2 tbsp Cape Malay mild curry powder; 1 tsp ground turmeric; 3 tbsp Mrs Ball's original chutney or smooth apricot jam; 50 g sultanas or golden raisins; 3 piece large eggs; 4 piece fresh lemon leaves or dried bay leaves; 2 tbsp slivered almonds, toasted

Fragrant curried minced meat enriched with fruit and baked under a golden, savory egg custard canopy.

Cook mode

comfort-foodbakedcape-malayheritage

The story

Tracing its roots to Indonesian botok brought to the Cape by enslaved Southeast Asian artisans in the 17th century, bobotie evolved into South Africa's iconic national baked dish. The harmonious interplay of sweet dried fruit, aromatic Cape Malay spices, and a rich custard layer exemplifies the syncretic Bo-Kaap culinary tradition.

Checking your membership…

Cook hands-free

Cook this next

South Africa·Main

Bobotie (Cape Malay Spiced Mince Bake)

Fragrant spiced ground beef studded with dried fruit and almonds, baked beneath a silky golden egg-custard topping.

1 h 5 minEasy

South Africa·Main

Boerewors Braai with Tomato Smoor

Juicy, spiced beef sausage grilled over open hardwood coals, served in fresh rolls with rich caramelized tomato smoor.

40 minEasy

South Africa·Main

Cape Malay Chicken Curry

A fragrant, mildly spiced chicken curry enriched with whole aromatics and waxy potatoes in a rich tomato sauce.

1 hEasy

South Africa·Main

Denningvleis (Tamarind and Allspice Mutton Stew)

A sweet, sour, and aromatic Cape Malay mutton stew slow-braised with tamarind pulp, whole allspice, and deeply caramelised onions.

1 h 55 minMedium