• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Effortless Foodie
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Ebooks
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Ebooks
    • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Easy Bobotie Recipe

    Published: Sep 23, 2021 · Modified: Oct 2, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 7 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Bobotie pin image.

    A delicious and comforting South African bobotie recipe, made with curried minced beef, fruit, and a savoury egg custard topping, which is baked in the oven until golden.

    Flavourful, punchy, and something a little bit different to the usual minced beef recipes of chilli con carne, spaghetti bolognese, cottage pie, and keema, which tend to do weekly rotations in our house!

    Bobotie in an enamel serving dish.

    Would you like to save this?

    We'll email you this post for easy access later! You'll also join the Effortless Foodie mailing list and receive my popular 'No Bake Bars and Slices' eBook for free!

    This site is protected by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Bobotie is often seen as South Africa’s national dish, with its origins in the Cape Malay community, which has brought us loads of other great dishes like sosaties and bredie, now key parts of South African cooking.

    This simple bobotie recipe is a tasty mix of curried mince and fruit (golden raisins are a classic), topped with a creamy, golden layer, a bit like moussaka.

    The best bit? It’s super delicious, and the kids always ask for seconds – which is a win in my book!

    👩‍🍳 Looking for another easy recipe that uses minced beef? Try my easy lasagne with a cheat's white sauce!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make South African bobotie
    • Top Tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQs
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    1. Bobotie blends Dutch and Malay flavours, offering a sweet, savoury, and slightly spicy taste.
    2. It’s simple to prepare with ingredients easily found in most supermarkets.
    3. Made with lean beef, fruit, and eggs, it's packed with protein and nutrients. Serve with veg and rice for a balanced meal.
    4. If you’re after a different kind of beef mince dish, bobotie is a great choice that’s not often found in restaurants.

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make bobotie.

    Beef Mince – 500g of 10% fat minced beef.

    Bread – One slice of thick white bread. White bread absorbs milk better than wholemeal.

    Milk – Full-fat or semi-skimmed, used to soak the bread.

    Butter – For frying the onion and garlic.

    Onion – 1 medium onion, finely chopped.

    Garlic – 2 cloves, finely chopped.

    Curry Paste – I use tikka, but for extra heat, go with madras. You can also swap for curry powder if you prefer.

    Cumin – For added flavour.

    Apple – One grated Granny Smith apple. Squeeze out excess moisture with a clean tea towel.

    Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a savoury depth to the dish.

    Mango Chutney – Two tablespoons for a fruity kick. Apricot jam works too.

    Bay Leaves – Two fresh or dried bay leaves.

    For the egg topping:

    Eggs – 2 large free-range eggs, at room temperature.

    Double Cream – Helps create a creamy egg custard topping. Milk can be used, but it may soak into the mince if it's not tightly packed in the dish.

    Milk – Reserved from soaking the bread.

    Nutmeg – A small pinch, freshly grated.

    🔪 How to make South African bobotie

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Soak the bread in milk in a shallow bowl.

    Two: Meanwhile, heat the butter in a frying pan and fry the onions and garlic on a medium heat for 5 minutes until soft.

    Three: Add in the minced beef and cook until it has changed colour.

    Four: Mix in the curry paste, cumin, grated apple, mango chutney, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves.

    Step by step photo instructions for making bobotie.

    Five: Simmer for 5 minutes.

    Six: Squeeze the milk from the slice of bread, being careful to reserve this milk as you will need it for the topping, and add it to the minced beef. Stir thoroughly until the bread is combined.

    Seven: Spoon the mixture into an oven-proof baking dish and pack down firmly with the back of a spoon.

    Eight: In a jug, whisk together the eggs, cream, nutmeg and reserved milk and pour onto the beef mixture. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the topping is golden. Garnish with extra bay leaves if you like.

    How to make easy bobotie recipe.

    Top Tips

    • When you're layering the beef mixture and custard topping, make sure to pack down the beef mixture firmly into the baking dish. This will ensure that the custard stays on top of the dish and doesn't sink to the bottom during baking.
    • To save time on the day of cooking, consider preparing the beef mixture ahead of time. Let it cool down completely before transferring it to an airtight container and storing it in the fridge. You can also freeze the curried beef mince if you want to make it even further in advance.
    • The key to a delicious bobotie is in the spices. Make sure to use good quality curry paste and cumin to give your dish a great flavour.
    • Bobotie is often served with yellow rice and chutney, but you can also serve it with other sides like roasted vegetables or a fresh salad.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Bobotie is typically served with fluffy yellow rice and tangy tomato sambal. While these sides are a classic choice, you can also switch things up by adding a fresh rocket salad or serving up seasonal green vegetables such as roasted Tenderstem broccoli or asparagus.

    📖 Variations

    • If you're feeding a crowd, simply double the recipe to ensure everyone gets a generous serving.
    • For an extra burst of sweetness and texture, add a handful of chopped dried apricots or raisins to the beef mixture before baking.
    • Toasted pine nuts add a crunch and nutty flavour to the dish. Sprinkle them over the top of the baked bobotie before serving.
    • To make the dish spicier, use hot curry powder and add a chopped red chilli.
    • Bobotie can also be made with lamb (minced lamb) instead of beef. Lamb adds a unique flavour to the dish and pairs well with the sweet and savoury spices.
    Traditional bobotie served in a white dish.

    🥡 Storage

    Store - Leftover bobotie can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure the dish has cooled down to room temperature before storing.

    Reheat - Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and place the dish in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot.

    Freeze - It's best to freeze the beef mince only, as the egg topping will change texture upon freezing. The beef mince can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before adding the egg topping and baking.

    ❓ FAQs

    What is the origin of bobotie?

    Bobotie is a traditional South African dish that originated from the Cape Malay community. It is a baked dish made with spiced minced meat and topped with a custard-like mixture.

    What does bobotie mean in English?

    A dish of minced meat with curry and condiments.

    What is the consistency of bobotie?

    The minced beef part of the recipe should be tightly packed into the baking dish and thus it resembles the consistency of meatloaf. The savoury egg custard topping is light and mousse-like in texture.

    What are some side dishes that go well with bobotie?

    Traditional side dishes that go well with bobotie include yellow rice and tomato sambal. You can also serve a green side salad or seasonal vegetables like roasted broccoli or asparagus for a fresh and healthy meal.

    😋Related recipes

    More beef mince recipes from the blog!

    • Simple Savoury Mince
    • Keema Matar
    • Easy Lasagne
    • Minced Beef Cobbler
    • Easy Cottage Pie

    Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's cooking in the Effortless Foodie kitchen! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too!

    Recipe

    Bobotie in a white serving dish.
    Email
    Print Pin
    5 from 8 votes

    Easy Bobotie

    A delicious and comforting South African bobotie recipe, made with curried minced beef, fruit, and a savoury egg custard topping, which is baked in the oven until golden.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine South African
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 590kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Would you like to save this?

    We'll email you this post for easy access later! You'll also join the Effortless Foodie mailing list and receive my popular 'No Bake Bars and Slices' eBook for free!

    This site is protected by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Frying Pan
    • Oven Proof Baking Dish
    • Measuring Jug
    • Whisk

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 1 Slice of White Bread
    • 100 ml Milk reserve the milk for the topping
    • 20 g Butter
    • 1 Onion finely chopped
    • 2 Garlic Cloves finely chopped
    • 500 g Minced Beef
    • 2 tablespoon Tikka Curry Paste
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • 1 Green Apple grated
    • 2 tablespoon Mango Chutney
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
    • 2 Bay Leaves
    • ½ teaspoon Salt

    For the topping

    • 2 Eggs large
    • 150 ml Double Cream
    • ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg grated
    • Reserved milk from above

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180°C (160 fan/ Gas 4/ 350F).
    • Soak the bread in milk in a shallow bowl.
      1 Slice of White Bread, 100 ml Milk
    • Meanwhile, heat the butter in a frying pan and fry the onions and garlic on a medium heat for 5 minutes until soft.
      20 g Butter, 1 Onion, 2 Garlic Cloves
    • Add in the minced beef and cook until it has changed colour.
      500 g Minced Beef
    • Mix in the curry paste, cumin, grated apple, mango chutney, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes.
      2 tablespoon Tikka Curry Paste, ½ teaspoon Cumin, 1 Green Apple, 2 tablespoon Mango Chutney, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce, 2 Bay Leaves, ½ teaspoon Salt
    • Squeeze the milk from the slice of bread, being careful to reserve this milk as you will need it for the topping, and add it to the minced beef. Stir thoroughly until the bread is combined into the beef mince.
      1 Slice of White Bread
    • Spoon the mixture into an oven-proof baking dish and pack down firmly with the back of a spoon.
    • In a jug, whisk together the eggs, cream, nutmeg, and reserved milk and pour it onto the beef mixture. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the topping is golden and set. Garnish with extra bay leaves if you like.
      2 Eggs, 150 ml Double Cream, ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg, Reserved milk from above

    Notes

    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Bobotie
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    590
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    44
    g
    68
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    20
    g
    125
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    2
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    16
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    224
    mg
    75
    %
    Sodium
     
    451
    mg
    20
    %
    Potassium
     
    552
    mg
    16
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    20
    g
    7
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    12
    g
    13
    %
    Protein
     
    27
    g
    54
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    746
    IU
    15
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    6
    mg
    7
    %
    Calcium
     
    112
    mg
    11
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Bucatini all'Amatriciana.
      Easy Bucatini all'Amatriciana Recipe
    • Spinach and blue cheese pasta
      Creamy Spinach and Blue Cheese Pasta
    • Chicken bolognese garnished with parsley.
      Easy Chicken Bolognese Recipe
    • Leftover roast beef stroganoff with parsley.
      Easy Leftover Roast Beef Stroganoff Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marlynn

      September 25, 2021 at 2:21 pm

      5 stars
      I had never made this at home before but your recipe was a hit! Thanks for the easy instructions.

      Reply
    2. Jennifer

      September 25, 2021 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      What a fabulous recipe! it turned out perfectly and was so full of flavor. I'll be making it again for sure!

      Reply
    3. Andrea

      September 25, 2021 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      Oh this is perfect for my family. We are always looking for new and delicious recipes to make with ground beef.

      Reply
    4. Farah Maizar

      September 25, 2021 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      Had never heard of this but looks so good! And simple to make, can't wait to try it out

      Reply
    5. Cathleen

      September 25, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Any time I see the word "easy" in the recipe, I know that I am going to love it. This recipe is so good, thank you so much for sharing 🙂

      Reply
    6. Beth

      September 25, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      How incredibly delicious! I took your advice and added some golden raisins. My family just loved it.

      Reply
    7. Rosemary

      December 05, 2024 at 8:12 pm

      made this yesterday using a (reduced price) Haggis 🙂 (yes, precooked but not for full time in view of more cooking in the recipe). Really tasty. Thank you

      Reply
    5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Bobotie pin image.

    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    Read more!

    My Web Stories

    Footer

    Footer

    Bobotie pin image.

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases

    Copyright © 2025 Effortless Foodie

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.