Bobotie

Prepare the Bread

Soak the slices of bread in the milk until softened.

Squeeze out excess milk and set the milk aside for later use. Crumble the bread into small pieces.

Cook the Meat Mixture

In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.

Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Add the ground beef or lamb to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.

Add Spices and Flavorings

Stir in the curry powder, sugar, ground turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, and ground cinnamon.

Add the crumbled bread, raisins, slivered almonds (if using), lemon juice, and apricot jam or chutney.

Mix well to combine and cook for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Prepare the Egg Mixture

In a small bowl, beat 2 of the eggs with the reserved milk from soaking the bread.

Assemble the Bobotie

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Transfer the meat mixture to a greased baking dish and spread it out evenly.

Pour the egg and milk mixture over the meat mixture, spreading it out evenly.

Beat the remaining egg and pour it over the top to form a custard layer.

Garnish with bay leaves.

Bake the Bobotie

Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until the custard is set and golden brown.

Serve

Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.