The Global Kitchen: South Africa- Bobotie and Sultana Yellow Rice

Bobotie is a classic dish from South Africa. It is pronounced ba-bo-tea. It is a casserole made with ground beef that is curry seasoned and topped with an egg custard. It is rich, savory, spicy, and smells amazing. 

A little history

The roots of Bobotie date back to the 17th century. Dutch traders set up camp in the area now known as Cape Town as a stopping point on their way to and from Indonesia. They brought spices, cooking techniques, and recipes with them. It is thought the original Bobotie recipe came from Indonesia and was adapted to fit the ingredients available in South Africa. 

Today Bobotie is considered by many to be the national dish of South Africa. It has become popular on menus featuring South African cuisine worldwide. 

Bobotie was transported by South African settlers to other parts of Africa and today can be found throughout Botswana, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Interesting fact: this dish is on the everyday menu at the buffet restaurant Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. 

The Recipe

                                      

It is the curry powder and the Bay leaves that really make this dish shine. I used a Garam Masala bought from Burlap and Barrel. 

This dish can be made in many different ways. It can also be made as a one pot dish which is great for fewer dishes, right?

The protein used can be either ground beef or ground lamb whichever you prefer. 

Traditionally the recipe incorporates dried fruit and a fruit jam or chutney. In my version I used Saltanas or Golden Raisins and Apricot Fruit Spread. The dish is not really spicy but has a variety of flavors that add complexity. The dried fruit contrasts with the curry flavor, and in my opinion the Sultanas are great when you get that small bite of raisin. The sweetness really adds something. 

Accompanied Side Dish- Sultana Yellow Rice

South African Sultana Yellow Rice compliments any meal. It gets its vibrant color from Turmeric and curry and its sweetness from the Sultanas aka Golden Raisins. It is traditionally served with Bobotie. It has a wonderful aroma that is not overpowering and compliments meat and beans well. Sultanas are plumper, sweeter, and juicier than regular raisins. It is a seedless white grape variety. 

There are health benefits to using Turmeric as well. It is known for it antioxidants, but also helps fight infections, reduce inflammation, and treat digestive problems. 

The best rice to use is Basmati or Jasmine. I used Jasmine rice. I used olive oil in place of butter. For the curry powder I used the same Garam Masala I used in the Bobotie. I used beef broth instead of chicken. The Sultanas really make this dish shine. Local tip: Harvest Market has Sultana's in their bulk section.

Another tip: this recipe works well in the rice cooker. I did have to cook it a second time on the white rice setting due to all of the ingredients added. You can use regular raisins instead of the Sultana's if you can't find them. However, the dish will be less sweet with the different raisins.