South African Bobotie: A Family Heirloom

1.Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

2.In a small bowl, soak the slice of white bread in the milk until soft. Once soaked, squeeze out the excess milk and set the bread aside, reserving the milk for later.

3.In a large skillet, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until the onion is translucent.

4.Add the ground beef to the skillet, cooking until browned. Break up any large chunks with a wooden spoon.

5.Stir in the curry powder, sugar, vinegar, raisins, and slivered almonds. Mix well to combine all the flavors.

6.Add the soaked bread to the meat mixture, stirring to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7.Transfer the meat mixture to a greased baking dish, spreading it out evenly.

8.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the reserved milk. Pour this mixture over the meat in the baking dish.

9.Place a bay leaf on top of the mixture for added flavor.

10.Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the egg topping is set and golden brown.

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