Whenever we have a potluck in church this is what I often bring as it’s so delicious and everyone loves it! Perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavors from curry powder and other spices, this Slow Cooker Bobotie will surely become a household favorite.
1tbspCurry powder,use mild or spicy depending on what heat level you prefer
2tspground Cinnamon
1tspground Cumin
2lbs(1 kilo) ground/minced Beef
1large carrotgrated
1cuptomato puree
5tbsp(up to 6 tbsp) fruit chutney or apricot jam/preserve, adjust to taste
2tspSalt
1tspground Pepper, or to taste
1egg,lightly beaten
¾cupraisins or sultanas
For the Topping
2eggs
1cupmilk
⅛tspsalt
¼tspground turmeric
6bay leaves
½cupflaked almonds,optional but highly recommended
Instructions
Prepare all the ingredients before cooking and make sure that all the spices are at hand. This will make it easier to cook the Bobotie.
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Fry the garlic and onions for about 2 minutes or until the onions are slightly tender. Adjust the heat to low and then add the ginger and other spices (cinnamon, curry powder, and cumin). Cook briefly just until fragrant. This is very quick.
Crumble the ground beef into the onion mix and coat with the spices. Cook just until the beef has browned. Add the rest of the ingredients – grated carrot, pureed tomatoes, salt, chutney, beaten egg, and raisins. Stir to mix everything evenly. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Prepare the topping.
For the topping
In a bowl, whisk the eggs with milk, salt, and turmeric.
Pour the egg mixture over the ground beef. Slip in the bay leaves and then scatter the flaked almonds all over. Continue to cook for another 1-2 hours or until the custard is fully set.
Serve immediately with rice on the side.
Notes
Tips & TricksI use medium spicy curry. But don’t worry even if you use a spicy one – it would not be overly spicy as there are other flavors in this dish that tone it down or cuts its intensity.If using the Apricot jam, you may need to add an extra 2-3 tablespoons (or adjust to taste) because it’s not as intensely sweet or flavorful as the chutney. If you can find Mrs. Ball’s Chutney – even better. It is a South African brand that makes this Bobotie truly yummy. But if not, don’t fret, all the spices and flavorings work together to make this so tasty so even if you cannot find the exact ingredient, it will still taste good.For the tomato puree, I use fresh Roma or plum tomatoes that I puree in a food processor or blender. This adds freshness and sweetness so I suggest using fresh tomatoes rather than canned ones unless it’s more convenient.