Main Course · South African ·

South African Bobotie with Yellow Rice and Chutney

Name: South African Bobotie with Yellow Rice and Chutney
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 2 medium onions, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons Cape Malay curry powder; 1 teaspoon ground turmeric; 500g minced beef or lamb; 1 cup breadcrumbs; ½ cup milk; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon chutney; 2 tablespoons apricot jam; Salt and pepper to taste; 2 eggs; 2 eggs; ½ cup milk; Pinch of salt; 3 bay leaves; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 cup basmati or jasmine rice; 2 cups water; 1 teaspoon turmeric; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 teaspoon salt; ¼ cup raisins, optional; Store-bought or homemade fruit chutney

Bobotie is a deliciously spiced and fragrant meat dish topped with an egg custard, traditionally accompanied by yellow rice and chutney.

4.6(852 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·July 21, 2025

South African Bobotie with Yellow Rice and Chutney — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

35 min

Cook

1 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Bobotie

For the Custard Topping

For the Yellow Rice

For the Chutney

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 440 kcal
Protein: 24 g
Carbs: 40.5 g
Fat: 25 g
Fiber: 1.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2640 kcal
Protein: 144.5 g
Carbs: 243.1 g
Fat: 149.8 g
Fiber: 9 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 tablespoon vegetable oil	120	0	0	14	0
2 medium onions, finely chopped	80	2	19	0	3
2 cloves garlic, minced	9	0.4	2	0	0.1
2 teaspoons Cape Malay curry powder	14	0.4	2.8	0.4	1
1 teaspoon ground turmeric	8	0.3	1.4	0.2	0.5
500g minced beef or lamb	1250	100	0	95	0
1 cup breadcrumbs	160	6	28	1.5	2
½ cup milk	60	3	5	3.5	0
1 tablespoon lemon juice	4	0	1	0	0.1
1 tablespoon chutney	30	0	7.5	0	0
2 tablespoons apricot jam	116	0	30	0	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
2 eggs	140	12	1	10	0
2 eggs	140	12	1	10	0
½ cup milk	60	3	5	3.5	0
Pinch of salt	0	0	0	0	0
3 bay leaves	0	0	0	0	0
1 tablespoon butter	102	0.1	0	11.5	0
1 cup basmati or jasmine rice	205	4	45	0.5	0.6
2 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 teaspoon turmeric	8	0.3	1.4	0.2	0.5
1 cinnamon stick	5	0	1	0	1
1 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
¼ cup raisins optional	109	1.1	29	0.2	1.2
Store-bought or homemade fruit chutney	60	0	15	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Bobotie

1
Sauté Onions and Garlic
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the onions and garlic until soft.
2
Add Spices
Add the curry powder and turmeric, cooking for another minute until aromatic.
3
Brown the Meat
Add the minced meat and cook until browned.

Preparing the Meat Mixture

1
Soak Breadcrumbs
In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs with milk and let soak.
2
Combine Mixture
Mix the soaked breadcrumbs, lemon juice, chutney, apricot jam, and seasoning with the cooked meat.
Tip: Adjust spice levels in the meat mixture to taste for desired heat.
3
Transfer to Baking Dish
Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Tip: Ensure the baking dish is not overfilled to prevent the custard from spilling.

How to Make South African Bobotie with Yellow Rice and Chutney

Total time: 2 h 20 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Yellow Rice Preparation
Melt butter in a saucepan. Add rice, water, turmeric, cinnamon, salt, and raisins. Bring to a boil, then simmer until water is absorbed.
2
Prepare Custard Topping
Beat eggs with milk, add a pinch of salt, and pour over the meat mixture in the baking dish. Place bay leaves on top.
3
Bake Bobotie
Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until the topping is set and golden.