Hairy Bikers Bobotie

Well, loved the show last night - but the Bobotie was not exactly your traditional Bobotie! I guess in a camping situation it would pass and at least they got the bay leaves right! This is a dish we had at least once a fortnight when we lived in Africa and I thought I'd share the recipe. I have included the Cape Malay Curry Powder recipe we use. You can make this up by reducing the quantities or make enough to use with other Malay or even North African style dishes

Bobotie
2 tsp butter
2 Onions, chopped
2 teaspoon Vinegar
Pepper
2 tablespoon Sugar
1 Apple, chopped or grated
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 kg minced beef
6 Bay leaves
2 slices Bread, soaked in milk and squeezed dry
2 tablespoon Malay Curry powder, adjust to taste **
1 tablespoon chopped Red chilli ( optional)
2 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup Sultanas or Raisins
1/2 cup chopped Almonds
2 Eggs
1 cup Milk or Cream
1 teaspoon Turmeric

Saute onion and apple in the butter and mix with meat, bread, curry powder, sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper, lemon juice and zest and sultanas. Chop almonds and add to mixture. Pour into a greased casserole. Roll bay leaves and push down into mixture. Bake at 190degrees for 35 minutes. Beat remaining egg into milk or cream with the turmeric and pour over mixture. Cook 10 more minutes until egg mix is set.

Cape Malay curry powder is very aromatic. I make my own in this quantity. I probably use more of this than any other curry powder, except Madras, Vindaloo and Balti because I love the pungent spices.

2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 tablespoon cumin seed
1 tablespoon fennel seed
1 tablespoon turmeric
1/2 tablespoon chili powder, adjust to taste
1 teaspoon clove
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cardamom
3 star anise
1 teaspoon Long pepper ( Pipali) or black pepper

Grind in grinder, store in cool dark place.

That sounds wonderful. Slowly getting into curries, after a lifetime of Keen's curry powder in mashed eggs, getting a little more adventurous. Will give your mix a go, it's full of things I like, except chilli. Might cut back on that.

I like those spices from Middle Eastern food. Smell intoxicating.

A basic Pungent aromatic 5 spice that can be used in many Ethnic dishes are the five C's - Cumin, Coriander, Cloves, Cardamom, Cinnamon. Pungent spices are used in Ayurvedic ( Indian) medicine to reduce inflammatory conditions and calm those who might be stressed - I think just smelling some of the spices has to have a calming effect.