Main Course 

BOBOTIE

PRONOUNCED: “BOW-BOO-TEA”

Preheat oven to 180c or 350F-

Ingredients:

• 1kg or 2.2 lbs. ground beef
• 2 medium sized onions, peeled and thinly sliced
• 30ml or 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 15ml or 1 tablespoon medium strength curry powder
• 5ml or 1tsp turmeric
• 30ml or 2 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice
• 15ml or 1 tablespoon sugar
• 15ml or 1 tsp salt
• 2ml or ˝ tsp black pepper
• 2 slices white bread
• 250ml or 1 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 75 gr 2 ˝ ounces raisins
• 45ml or 3 tablespoons fruit chutney
• grated rind of one lemon (optional)
• 2 bay leaves
• 6-12 almonds blanched and quartered
• 6 lemon leaves

Method:

Parboil the onions in a little water until opaque and drain reserving the water, chop and fry in the oil until just golden coloured.
Add the curry power and turmeric. Fry for 2 minutes stirring all the time then add the vinegar or lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.

In the meanwhile, soak the bread in milk, then squeeze dry, strain the milk and set aside. Crumble the minced raw meat into a pan with the onion water and a little boiling water. Cook for 5 minutes.

Lightly mix the meat, bread, onion mixture with 1 egg, raisins, chutney and lemon rind if used. Pack into a buttered casserole and add the bay leaves cover and bake for 1 ˝ hours. Remove from the oven and stick the almonds and lemon leaves (turned into cones shapes) into the meat.

Whip the remaining egg with the milk add about ˝ cup more milk to make 250ml or a full cup and carefully pour over the meat over the back of a spoon.
Return to the oven turning the heat down to 300F or 180C and bake uncovered for 30minutes.

It is nice with yellow rice (see our side dishes) with raisins and fresh veggies or a crisp green salad.