Bobotie with brown rice and lentils

• 2 onions, chopped
• 30 g butter
• 1 kg free-range beef mince
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 slices brown bread, crusts trimmed
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 3 free-range eggs
• 1/4 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
• 1 apple, peeled and grated
• 1/4 cup seedless raisins
• 2 T brown sugar
• 1 T mild curry powder
• Bay or lemon leaves
• 1/4 t turmeric

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Gently cook the onion in the heated butter until meltingly soft and golden. Add the beef mince and pan fry for 5 minutes with the onion. Season to taste.

Tear the bread into bits and mash it with 65ml (¼ cup) of buttermilk and 1 beaten egg.

Mix the apricots, apple, raisins, sugar, curry powder and bay leaves then mix it with the mince and bread. Turn into a buttered baking dish (one large dish or individual dishes).

Beat the remaining 2 eggs with the rest of the buttermilk and the turmeric, and pour over the spiced meat mixture. Bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is set and golden.

Serve with brown and lentil rice and mango atchar.