That’s me to the left, cooking up some tasty bobotie in my kitchen!
Bobotie is a very traditional dish served throughout southern Africa, and it’s one of my favorites. Not only is the dish hearty and full of bold flavors, but it also reminds me of my home in Zimbabwe. This is the kind of meal we serve to our friends.
Below is a fantastic bobotie recipe from one of our absolute favorite properties in South Africa, Royal Malewane, which is featured in our South Africa cookbook, a Taste of Africa. Enjoy!
Serves 6
*Serve with plain cooked rice that has been scented and colored with turmeric.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable or sunflower oil
2 medium onions, chopped
2 1/4 pounds ground beef
1 slice white bread
1 cup milk
2 bay leaves
3 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons lemon juice
5 teaspoons almonds (chopped)
1/2 cup raisins
2 eggs
1/4 cup chutney
Preparation:
1. Set aside 1/2 cup of the milk and one of the eggs for later use.
2. Preheat the oven to 355-degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Sauté the onions in the oil in a large saucepan until they are translucent, then remove them from the pan and put aside.
4. Cook the ground beef in the same pan.
5. In a small bowl, soak the slice of bread in 1/2 cup of the milk.
6. Once soft, drain milk and break bread up into small pieces. Add this and the remaining ingredients (except the egg and milk) to the ground meat and the cooked onions. Mix well.
7. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
8. Whisk the reserved milk and egg together and pour over the top of the ground beef mixture.
9. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, until it is golden brown on top.
Located in the Kruger National Park area of South Africa, Royal Malewane not only provides guests with an exceptional game viewing experience, but this luxury accommodation also offers lavish spa treatments for travelers looking to unwind after a great day of game drives and bush walks. It’s also important to note that our clients love the safari guides at Royal Malewane! Not to mention, the cuisine here is outstanding, and what I love is that the chef comes out before each course and tells you exactly how he makes each dish. Normally there are two or three choices per course.
