Bobotie recipe

Bobotie recipe. Image credit: Melissa Jacobs

Tannie Elsa’s bobotie: An iconic meal made in your own kitchen

If you can’t take the drive, you can now make Tannie Elsa’s bobotie in the comfort of your own kitchen and surprise your family with flavour.

Bobotie recipe

Bobotie recipe. Image credit: Melissa Jacobs

When you ask South Africans about traditional local dishes, you’ll always find bobotie high on that list. A curry mince dish that’s topped with an egg mixture that’s grilled to perfection. We also have iconic chefs making some of the best and Tannie Elsa’s bobotie might just be one of the greatest. The first bobotie recipe appeared in a Dutch cookbook in 1609. It was then brought to South Africa and the Cape Malay community adopted – and adapted – it. Some recipes include raisins, but not all.

ALSO READ: Venison stroganoff: Putting a spin on a family favourite

Tannie Elsa’s bobotie tips

There are many variations on bobotie, but Tannie Elsa from Bethal makes one of the best. It is worth it to travel to this Mpumalanga farming town just for a taste of her bobotie! However, you can now try your hand at her famous dish. The apricot jam and chutney add a hint of sweetness, while the curry powder adds a gentle warmth. The bobotie is always serve on a bed of fluffy turmeric rice which brightens up the dish to give it that well-known look.

ALSO READ: Chicken curry braai pie: A twist on the classic local meal

If you can’t take the drive, you can now make Tannie Elsa’s bobotie in the comfort of your own kitchen and surprise your family with flavour.

Last updated on 21 August 2023

Tannie Elsa’s bobotie recipe

5 from 3 votes
Recipe by Melissa Jacobs Course: DinnerCuisine: GlobalDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Total time

40

minutes

You simply must try this the time-honoured South African way, served with sweet potatoes, yellow rice and chutney.

Ingredients

  • 2 2 diced onions

  • 25 ml 25 butter

  • 250 ml 250 milk

  • 1 kg 1 lean beef mince

  • 10 ml 10 salt

  • 1 ml 1 pepper

  • 20 ml 20 mild curry powder

  • 10 ml 10 sugar

  • 12.5 ml 12.5 white vinegar

  • 12.5 ml 12.5 apricot jam

  • 3 3 eggs

  • 1 tsp 1 turmeric

  • 3 tbsp 3 chutney

  • 2 slices white bread

Method

  • Soak the bread in the milk. Squeeze out the milk and put aside.
  • In a frying pan melt the butter and fry the onions. Add the mince and brown the meat. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Mix the rest of the ingredients together, except one egg.
  • Add the wet bread and the apricot mixture to the mince.
  • Pour the mixture into a greased oven dish.
  • Mix the egg with the milk. Pour over the bobotie.
  • Bake for 1 hour at 150°C.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @the.south.african on Instagram and hashtag it #recipes

Like this recipe?

Follow us @thesouthafrican on Pinterest

Looking for more tasty and traditional recipes to prepare for your family and friends? Just have a look at our recipe page, we have excellent suggestions for you to try.

If you would like to submit a recipe for publication, please complete our recipe form here.