South African Bobotie

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

2. 2

   Soak the bread slice in the milk until fully absorbed, then remove and squeeze gently to remove excess milk. Reserve the milk for later use.

3. 3

   Finely chop the onions and garlic cloves.

4. 4

   In a large skillet, sauté the onions and garlic until they are soft and translucent.

5. 5

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

6. 6

   Stir in the curry powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper, and cook for another minute until the spices are fragrant.

7. 7

   Remove from heat and mix in the bread, apricot jam, and almonds.

8. 8

   Transfer the meat mixture to an ovenproof dish and press down with the back of a spoon to create an even layer.

9. 9

   Beat the eggs with the reserved milk and pour this mixture over the meat in the dish.

10. 10

    Place the bay leaves and lemon leaves on top of the mixture.

11. 11

    Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is set and golden brown.

12. 12

    Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.