This South African dish is popular in the Cape, a region which is even more southern of Africa. It is a wholesome dish and heavy so it is ideal in winter. Many people make a variation of the dish by including or excluding some of the ingredients. I will point out the non-essential ingredients with optional in brackets.
Ingredients
2 slices white bread
2 onions, chopped
25g butter (optional, you can use olive oil too)
2 crushed garlic cloves (optional)
1kg packet lean minced beef
2 tbsp Madras curry paste (optional)
1 tsp dried mixed herbs (according to personal preference)
2 tbsp peach or mango chutney (optional, but nice to have)
3 tbsp sultana(optional)
6 bay leaves
3 cut bell peppers (red, yellow and red)
handful of raisins
4 medium sized cut Golden delicious apples
For the topping
300ml full-cream milk
2 large eggs
PREPARATION & COOKING:
STEP 1: PREPARE OVEN AND BREAD
Heat oven to 180C. Pour, just enough to soak not drench, milk over the bread and set aside to soak.
STEP 2: COOK/FRY/SATEE MAIN INGREDIENTS ON THE STOVE
Meanwhile, fry the onions in the butter or olive oil, stirring regularly for 10 mins until they are soft and starting to colour. Add the garlic and beef and stir well, crushing the mince into fine grains until it changes colour. Stir in the curry paste, herbs, spices, chutney, sultanas and 2 of the bay leaves with 1 tsp salt and plenty of ground black pepper. In a separate pan satee the cut green peppers until soft.Prepare them separately because the cooking times are different. When ready mix with the rest of the ingredients.
STEP 3:TRANSFER INGREDIENTS TO OVEN CASSEROLE
Cover and simmer for 10 mins. Add the milk-soaked bread into the mix, then add the raisins and the apples. Leave on medium heat for the apples and raisins to cook well and blend favours. After 5 to 7 minutes of cooking on medium heat, pout ingredients into an oven casserole (you can rub butter or olive oil before pouring it in, your choice). Press down the mixture well in the casserole.
STEP 4:PREPARE CASSEROLE AND BAKE
For the topping, beat the milk and eggs then drop a few bay leaves into the liquid topping. Next pour the liquid topping over the meat previously placed in oven casserole. Put the casserole in the oven and bake for 35-40 mins until the topping is set and starting to turn golden.
Take out, leave to cool and serve with fruit chutney or sauce of your choice. This dish can be accompanied by bread, rice or any other carbohydrate of your choice.
ENJOY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
IMAGE: SpruceEats.com