My First South African Recipe: Sean's Bobotie

What happens when people who were your boyfriends family suddenly become yours? Something definitely, definitely happened to me. It's not quite like suddenly you're happy to lie on a couch in your pyjamas with them, but this gorgeous familial affection definitely takes root inside of you.

I don't know if Ralph felt the same way about my family, but there was definitely something tangible that changed in my relationship with his family the day we got married. Even though we had technically been family for years, together on Christmas, birthdays and visits, now we're solidly so.

One of the family members I gained that wonderful day was Sean, my brother in law. I don't know if he knew quite what this gift of a simple recipe would end up meaning to me. I made this one evening while waiting for Ralph to get home. When he did the first thing he said was "I was hoping that smell was coming from here". Could I ask for more?

Bobotie

From Sean, copied almost directly

25ml olive oil

12.5ml butter

2 medium onions, chopped

2 garlic gloves, chopped

1kg beef mince

2 tblsp medium curry powder

10ml turmeric

25ml smooth apricot jam

3 slices white bread

3 eggs

375ml milk

2 eggs

180 ml milk

1) Preheat the oven to 180 C.

2) Melt the butter in the oil in a deep pan.

3) Fry the onion until translucent, then add the garlic and fry for a couple of minutes.

4) Add the mince, and brown nicely. 

5) Add salt, pepper, curry powder and turmeric. (Add a bit less curry powder if you don't like hot food)

6) Soak bread in water, squeeze out and crumble (more like mashing.)

7) Beat the eggs and milk together, and add, together with the bread and jam, to the mince. Stir thoroughly.

8) Pour into a greased baking dish.

9) Bake for 30 minutes.

10) Whisk together eggs and milk for "custard" topping. Pour over mince.

11) Bake for another 30 minutes. Serve with or without rice to hungry loved ones on cold nights.