Description
Jamie Oliver’s bobotie combines South African spiced ground meat with a creamy egg custard topping. Savory, aromatic flavors meld together, offering you a delightful culinary journey through traditional Cape Malay cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) lean minced beef
- 1 kg packet of lean minced beef
- 300 ml (10 fl oz) full-cream milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 slices white bread
- 2 tbsps Madras curry paste
- 2 tbsps peach or mango chutney
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
- 3 tbsps sultanas
- 3 cloves
- 5 allspice berries
- 6 bay leaves
- 25 g (0.9 oz) butter
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C), with fan setting at 320°F (160°C). Soak white bread slices in cold water, setting aside for later use.
- Meat Foundation: In a large skillet, melt butter and sauté onions until translucent. Add garlic and ground beef, meticulously breaking down the meat while stirring until thoroughly cooked. Infuse with Madras curry paste, dried mixed herbs, cloves, allspice berries, chutney, sultanas, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper, then simmer covered for 10 minutes to develop complex flavors.
- Layering: Squeeze excess water from soaked bread and fold into the meat mixture. Transfer the seasoned meat to an ovenproof dish, compressing it evenly. Whisk milk and eggs together, creating a smooth custard-like topping. Pour the mixture over the meat base, strategically placing bay leaves on top for visual appeal.
- Baking: Place the Bobotie in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Monitor until the surface transforms into a rich, golden-brown crust, indicating perfect doneness.
Notes
- Bread Soaking Technique: Soak white bread slices in cold water to create a moist, tender texture that helps bind the meat mixture and prevents dryness.
- Meat Browning Crucial: Break down ground beef into fine crumbles while cooking to ensure even flavor distribution and prevent clumping.
- Spice Balance Matters: Use Madras curry paste, cloves, and allspice berries to create an authentic South African flavor profile that defines traditional Bobotie.
- Custard Topping Precision: Whisk milk and eggs carefully to create a smooth, light custard that sets perfectly and provides a creamy contrast to the spiced meat base.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: South African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg