Have you had Bobotie yet? If not, I’m so excited to introduce you to it!

Bobotie is the national dish of South Africa. It is, essentially, a meatloaf with more exciting, tropical flavors. You’re probably reading it and questioning how it’s pronounced. Is it Bo-Bo-Tie? Bo-Bo-ty? Well, the answer is, I still don’t know!  The closest I can guide you is Bo-Boor-tea…or something like that. I think I’ve narrowed it down to the fact that without the SA accent, it’s not easily pronounced. If you want to know more about the pronunciation, check out this Sesquiotica post.

While I was searching for a guide to the pronunciation of Bobotie, I came across Suzelle DIY. How did I only just find her? She makes Bobotie in a pumpkin and she is adorable. Seriously though, bobotie baked inside of a pumpkin. That is just so right up my alley. So once I’m finished with this, I’m going to get busy working on that. Also, listen to how she pronounces Bobotie…that sounds right.

I had it for the first time last November. Mr. FGK and I were hosting an international pot luck for which our friends from all parts of the world brought dishes to represent their home countries. It was easily one of the best parties we’ve hosted yet. We made Gumbo & Shrimp n’ Grits to represent the American Deep South. The spread included meat pies, Biryani, quesadillas with guacamole, Irish hot whiskeys, mac n’ cheese, French onion soup, etc. A friend from SA brought Bobotie and I loved it! I began researching recipes after the party and I’ve developed a real obsession with SA food ever since.

Bobotie is a creamy blend of contrasting flavors. It uses minced lamb or beef for the tender texture. The meat is seasoned with Madras curry powder and turmeric and mixed with sweeter flavors like chopped, dried & preserved fruit. It is topped with beaten egg and baked so the egg becomes a layer of crust above the meat. Once it is cooked, top it with other tropical flavors like chutney, coconut & banana. It creates a tangy blend of slightly sweet & slightly spicy.

For this post, I am linking to a recipe. So I suppose this is a recipe recommendation. When I make this dish, I often use Martha Stewart’s Bobotie recipe. It is easy to follow and all of the ingredients can be found at grocery stores at home.

Enjoy! I can guarantee you this will not be my last post about SA food.