Authentic Bobotie Recipe South Africa, Africa

This South African casserole is made with either beef or lamb and is typically seasoned only with turmeric and curry; however, various recipes call for an array of spices, such as allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Milk-soaked bread is added principally to provide moisture, although nowadays, pork is often added to the meat mixture for extra moisture and flavor. The recipe gets its sweetness from dried fruits and nuts, such as raisins, sultanas, almonds, and walnuts, as well as apples and dried apricots. Onions are first sautéed and then added to the remaining ingredients and baked. Some chefs choose to also sauté the meat together with the onions — in this case, the final baking time is shorter. Near the end of baking, the bobotie is coated with an egg and milk custard and decorated with either bay leaves, lemon leaves, or orange leaves, and occasionally also banana slices, almond slivers, and coconut shavings. Once baked,... Read more