Babute
Babute is a South African curried beef bake with chopped dried apricots, bay leaves, and a rich egg custard poured over the top. Simple comfort food with exotic spice and fruity sweetness in every bite.
YIELD
6 servingsPREP
15 minCOOK
45 minREADY
60 minBabute is bobotie’s streamlined cousin, and it doesn’t mess around.
Lean ground beef gets seasoned with a generous hand of curry powder, then studded with finely chopped dried apricots that melt into pockets of tangy sweetness as the dish bakes.
Half the egg-milk-cream mixture goes right into the meat for richness, while the other half gets poured over the top and bakes into a silky, golden custard.
Bay leaves float on the surface, perfuming everything with their earthy aroma as it all sets in the oven.
Kitchen Tips
- Chop the dried apricots fine so they distribute evenly and soften fully during baking. Large chunks stay chewy and don’t blend well with the beef.
- Use lean ground beef. Fattier cuts release grease that pools under the custard and makes the dish oily.
- Float the bay leaves on the custard layer, not buried in the meat. They release more fragrance when exposed to the heat from above.
- The custard should jiggle slightly in the center when you pull it out. Residual heat will finish setting it as it rests.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine beef, salt and curry powder. Combine eggs, milk and cream. Combine half of the egg mixture with the beef; stir in apricots.
Turn into a greased 13 x 9” baking dish . Pour remaining egg mixture over top; float several bay leaves on top of milk; dot with butter. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes until top resembles baked custard.
Comments