One-Pan Bobotie Casserole

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Bursting with flavors, slightly sweetened with apricot jam and simple to prepare, this one-pan bobotie casserole is a perfect dinner solution for your busy weekdays.

Tired of the same old ground beef recipes? Then you will love this bobotie casserole, a traditional dish of South Africa, because you don’t need a new skill to make it. Bursting with flavors, slightly sweetened with apricot jam and simple to prepare, the bobotie will quickly become your family’s new favorite meal. Best of all, it’s made in one pan and thus a perfect solution for busy weekday dinners. Less time cleaning up = more time with your family.

WHAT IS A BOBOTIE AND HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT

I wasn’t sure how to pronounce bobotie correctly so I searched for it and found these three ways. My pronunciation was much like #3 and I’m also guessing that’s the correct one (because they said so, ha!)

1. Cambridge Dictionary
2. YouTube
3. rightpronaunciation.com

This South African casserole is similar to that of Greek Moussaka, minus the potatoes. It is traditionally served with yellow rice, which is also flavored with spices and sweetened with sultanas (golden raisins). But I suspect it could be served with potatoes or even alone. Leftovers are great for brunch!

I love that we can make small changes and still enrich our food experience. Don’t get me wrong, I sometimes go to great lengths for a fabulous meal or a dessert, but on most days I just want something simple without having to rotate same dishes over and over.

That’s where the spices and herbs come in. They make such a broad palette of flavors in an easy and inexpensive way. Not sure how to pair them? Grab my FREE recipes to 30 homemade spice blends (or sign up on the bottom of this post) and receive a list of popular spices by cuisine delivered to your email as well. It’s a great aide in experiencing flavors from around the world. More about spices and herbs 101 later on. Stay tuned. 😉

When my (South African-native) talented friend Michelle told me bobotie is her favorite dish and that I should make it, I hesitated. I assumed that it must be complicated or at least that it uses to me unknown ingredients.  I was wrong (my husband is writing down this date, lol). It’s as simple as it was making their oatmeal cookie bars.

Bobotie is like making a meatloaf without getting your hands dirty. Everything is cooked in one skillet and then the same skillet goes into the oven. Easy-peasy and delicious. It’s so good, I made it twice in a week!

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One-Pan Bobotie Casserole Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

Serves 4

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and ground pepper
• 1 large carrot, peeled and grated
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon each curry and turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon each ground ginger and cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon smooth apricot jam
• 1/4 cup sultanas (golden raisins), optional
• 1/2 cup beef or chicken broth
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4-5 bay leaves

~ Free Tip ~

• You can add 1/2 cup sliced almonds to the meat mixture.
• Transfer the mixture to a small casserole dish if you don’t have an oven-safe skillet.

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large cast iron or oven-safe skillet, cook the onion and garlic in the oil. Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper and cook until meat is browned and crumbly. Use a wooden spoon or a fork to break down large lumps.
2. Add the carrot and lemon juice and mix through. Stir in the spices, jam, and sultanas if using. Add the breadcrumbs and broth and mix to combine. If the mixture is too crumbly add more broth, one tablespoon at a time. Level the mixture with the back of a spoon.
3. Lightly whisk together the eggs and milk. Pour the milk and egg mixture (the custard) over the meat mixture and lay the bay leaves on top.
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes or until the egg custard is set and golden brown in color. Serve with rice.

South African One-Pan Bobotie Casserole

Bursting with flavors and simple to prepare, this one-pan bobotie casserole is a perfect dinner solution for your busy weekdays.

5 from 1 vote

Print Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: South African

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 4

Calories: 460kcal

Author: Jas

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 garlic cloves diced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and ground pepper
• 1 large carrot peeled and grated
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon each curry and turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon each ground ginger and cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon smooth apricot jam
• 1/4 cup sultanas  (golden raisins), optional
• 1/2 cup beef or chicken broth
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4-5 bay leaves

Instructions

• In a large cast iron or oven-safe skillet, cook the onion and garlic in the oil. Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper and cook until meat is browned and crumbly. Use a wooden spoon or a fork to break down large lumps.
• Add the carrot and lemon juice and mix through. Stir in the spices, jam, and sultanas if using. Add the breadcrumbs and broth and mix to combine. If the mixture is too crumbly add more broth, one tablespoon at a time. Level the mixture with the back of a spoon.
• Lightly whisk together the eggs and milk. Pour the milk and egg mixture (the custard) over the meat mixture and lay the bay leaves on top.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes or until the egg custard is set and golden brown in color. Serve with rice.

Notes

~ Free Tip ~

• Replace fruit chutney with apricot jam, if you prefer.
• You can add 1/2 cup sliced almonds to the meat mixture.
• Transfer the mixture to a small casserole dish if you don't have an oven-safe skillet.

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 338mg | Potassium: 543mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2715IU | Vitamin C: 4.5mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 3.5mg

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