Bobotie (South African spiced mince pie)

Name: Bobotie recipe (South African spiced mince pie)
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 thick slices white bread, crusts removed (or 4 slices Wonder White style bread); 125ml milk; 50g unsalted butter; 2 onions, finely chopped; 8 curry leaves; 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 20.00 ml very finely chopped ginger; 40.00 ml mild curry powder; 70g tomato paste; 40.00 ml fruit chutney, plus extra to serve (we used Mrs Balls brand); 40.00 ml apple cider vinegar; 1kg beef mince; 55g sultana; 45g almond; Yellow rice, to serve (see note); 2 eggs; 1/4 tsp ground turmeric; 250ml milk; Fresh bay leaves, to decorate; 1 large truss tomato, chopped; 1 small red onion, sliced; 1 Lebanese cucumber, thinly sliced; 60ml cider vinegar

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P99 Bobotie (South African spiced mince pie)

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by Warren Mendes

delicious. team

Jul 05, 2022

Warren Mendes shares his take on a South African one-tray classic - bobotie.

2 thick slices white bread, crusts removed (or 4 slices Wonder White style bread)
1/2 cup (125ml) milk
50g unsalted butter
2 onions, finely chopped
8 curry leaves
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tbs very finely chopped ginger
2 tbs mild curry powder
1/4 cup (70g) tomato paste
2 tbs fruit chutney, plus extra to serve (we used Mrs Balls brand)
2 tbs apple cider vinegar
1kg beef mince
1/3 cup (55g) sultanas
1/3 cup (45g) slivered almonds, toasted, chopped
Yellow rice, to serve (see note)

Egg topping

2 eggs
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1 cup (250ml) milk
Fresh bay leaves, to decorate

Chilli pickles

1 large truss tomato, chopped
1 small red onion, sliced
1 Lebanese cucumber, thinly sliced
1/4 cup (60ml) apple cider vinegar

Method

1.

Preheat oven to 180°C. Place bread and milk in a bowl and set aside to soak. Melt butter in a large, deep ovenproof frypan over medium heat. Add onion and curry leaves and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes until soft. Season, then add garlic, ginger and curry powder and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add tomato paste, chutney and vinegar and cook for 2-3 minutes until caramelised slightly. Add mince and cook, breaking up mince with a wooden spoon, for 10 minutes or until browned. Stir in the soaked bread and milk, breaking it up to combine, then add sultanas and almonds. Add 1 cup (250ml) water and check the seasoning. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes or until thick and reduced.
2.

Meanwhile, for the egg topping, beat the eggs, turmeric and milk in a bowl or jug and season with salt flakes.
3.

Transfer beef mixture to a 25cm square ovenproof baking dish, pressing down on the mixture to create a flat surface.
4.

Carefully pour over the egg topping and scatter with bay leaves. Bake for 35-40 minutes until topping is golden.
5.

Meanwhile, for the pickle, combine all ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Remove bobotie from oven and serve immediately, with chilli pickle, extra chutney and yellow rice alongside.