I promised you this one – and here it is – low carb bobotie.
So easy and totally delish – just like the real deal!
So – what IS bobotie?
Well, it’s a traditional Cape Malay dish and totally South African.
Bobotie is a spiced mince dish that is baked with a savoury custard topping.
It’s definitely something that most South Africans grew up with – or have at least eaten once in their lives, yes, I bet even vegetarians have had this at some stage…
I didn’t grow up with very traditional foods – I don’t remember my parents {both mom & dad did the cooking in our house, dad being the über-foodie} ever making a stew, dreaded pap & mince or anything like that, that most of my peers grew up with.
However, bobotie was in the mix for sure, and this was as close to ‘boerekos’ as I ever got.
{Even though I’m an Afrikaans girl, hubby had to teach and convince me to start making more traditional meals…}
Anyhoo, a bobotie usually contains raisins and white bread – so not very low-carb or paleo-friendly…
Here’s my version of a low carb bobotie, with cranberries instead of raisins:
Low Carb Bobotie – serves 6-8
You will need:
2 tbsp. coconut oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 tbs curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1 kg minced beef {minced topside is great!}
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries, soaked in hot water
5 eggs {keep 3 aside for the custard topping}
1 cup cream OR buttermilk
Salt & pepper
4 bay leaves
Start by heating the coconut oil in a large pot, add the onions and let it sauté on a medium heat.
Add the spices and cook until the onion is soft and fragrant.
Add the mince + 1 tsp salt and let it cook until the meat is cooked.
Next, add the soaked cranberries {drain the water!}.
Remove from the heat, while you prepare the custard topping:
Whisk 3 eggs together with the cream and season with salt & pepper.
Now, mix the remaining 2 eggs into the curried mince mixture and scoop it into a buttered oven dish.
Pour the egg & cream mixture over the top and place the bay leaves on top.
Bake at 180C / 325F for 45 minutes.
Serve with a salad or some shaved almonds or a sugar-free chutney if you like.
Bobotie is not an overly spicy dish, but rather a mildly spiced, fragrant and delicate dish. And you definitely must include the cranberries!!
This makes a great family meal and perfect for lunch boxes the following day.
Enjoy! X
*I’ve updated this recipe to be as easy and tasty as possible.
Brigette
March 22, 2015 at 8:02 amthank you, made this absolutely fantastic
Heidi
March 22, 2015 at 8:32 amThanks Brigitte, glad you like it! X
vocabulary|in|chunks
April 24, 2015 at 9:53 pmDelicious!
Yvonne van der Westhuizen
April 4, 2016 at 10:15 amDankie Heidie!
Uiteindelik het ek resep gekry op jou site.
Myne is in die oond en kan nie wag om in klim nie!!!
Elmari
July 14, 2016 at 2:12 pmHI, I think Cranberries is not low in carb? 1/4 cup is about 25gr of carbs
Heidi Visser
July 15, 2016 at 11:53 amHi Elmari,
if you choose to use dried cranberries, always opt for the unsweetened ones. Cranberries are a low carb alternative to raisins – but you can choose wether to use it or not.
For me, as it’s a lifestyle, I do eat it on occasion.
25g divided by 8 portions puts it at just over 3g of carbs per serving and if you do slightly bigger servings (6 servings), it comes in at just over 4g per serving – which is still low in carbs and can be enjoyed with a clear conscience.
x
Thia
September 6, 2016 at 12:12 amSounds lovely! Will definitely try it. Just wondering about the cauli mash you mention in the intro insead of the white bread – does that get used in the mince mix or do you just use it to serve instead of rice?
Heidi Visser
September 6, 2016 at 10:27 amHello Thia!
Thanks for pointing that out! I recently updated the recipe {I used to put a bit of cauli mash inside the mixture, instead of bread} and missed that part… Oops! :)
You can try it with a spoonful of cauli mash in the mix, but I don’t find it necessary…
x
Liandi
May 31, 2017 at 1:30 pmLove it! Thanks Heids!!