- Bobotie -

A traditional meat dish as prepared by the Malayans in Cape Town, South Africa. This one is specially for Catherine :)

Ingredients

1kg minced lamb or beef 1 thick slice of white bread 250ml milk 2 onions, chopped 30ml butter 30ml mild curry powder 20ml salt

A pinch of pepper The juice from 1 lemon OR 30ml vinegar 5ml brown sugar OR 15ml apricot jam 12 crushed almonds (optional) 2 eggs 6 orange, lemon or bayleaves

Method

1. Soak the bread in 125ml milk until it is very soft, then mash it with a fork.
2. Saute the onion in heated butter until the onion turns transparent.
3. Add the curry powder and seasonings, and fry for 2 minutes. Then add the lemon juice or vinegar, soaked bread, brown sugar or apricot jam, almonds and minced meat.
4. Cook until the meat begins to colour, stiring with a fork to remove all lumps.
5. Transfer to a greased pie dish and smooth the top.
6. Beat the eggs and the remaining meat and pour over the meat.
7. Arrange the orange, lemon or bayleaves on top, and bake at 160 degrees celcius for 30 minutes.
8. Serve the dish with rice, chutney, sliced bananas and sambal. (Chutney is like a cross between pickel and tomatoe sauce. Sambal is a tangy condiment of Malayan origin, consiting of grated quince flavoured with salt and vinegar or chopped tomatoe flavoured with onion).
9. Eat, accompanied by good friends, frantic banjoe's, and a liberal dosage of red wine!