South African Bobotie (Spiced Minced Meat)

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Ground beef
• 1 large Onion
• 3 cloves Garlic
• 2 tablespoons Curry powder
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric
• 1 teaspoon Ground coriander
• 1/2 cup Dried apricots
• 1/4 cup Raisins
• 1/4 cup Almond slivers
• 2 tablespoons Chutney
• 3 large Eggs
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 leaves Bay leaves

Instructions

1. 1Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. 2In a large 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven, brown the 2 lbs of ground beef over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until no pink remains. Carefully drain any excess fat from the pan.
3. 3Finely dice the 1 large onion and mince the 3 cloves of garlic. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pan with the browned beef and sauté over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until the onion is softened and translucent. Stir in the 2 tablespoons of curry powder, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, and 1 teaspoon of ground coriander, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. 4Add the 1/2 cup of dried apricots, 1/4 cup of raisins, 1/4 cup of almond slivers, and 2 tablespoons of chutney to the meat mixture in the pan. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Season the mixture with 3/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld.
5. 5Transfer the entire meat mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Tuck the 2 bay leaves into the mixture, ensuring they are partially submerged.
6. 6In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 3 large eggs and 1 cup of milk until well combined. Season the egg mixture with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Gently pour the egg mixture evenly over the meat in the baking dish.
7. 7Bake the bobotie in the preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-40 minutes, or until the egg custard is set in the center and the top is golden brown.
8. 8Remove the bobotie from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. This cooling period allows the custard to firm up further, making it easier to slice and serve.

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