Today we take you to the Eastern Cape of South Africa where Jennifer Clack of Ubunye, an IDEX partner since 2010, shares her recipe for bobotie. Considered by many South Africans to be their national dish, this custard-topped meat casserole is a tasty example of the country’s unique culinary heritage.
Jennifer first joined Unbunye through their doll-making cooperative, one of more than 40 self-help groups the foundation has helped establish.
The self-help groups meet weekly and collect member contributions, which are then funneled into a savings pool. As the savings pool increases, the group is able to provide loans to fellow members. The weekly meetings also serve as a powerful support system that nurtures trust among members. Once enough money has been generated it is used as seed money to establish income-generating projects that often transform into fully fledged businesses.
To date, more than 500 unemployed people, mostly women like Jennifer, have worked with Ubunye’s income-generating projects including those in doll-making, weaving, beading, soap-making, and bee-keeping.
“I have become a role model for my children and my family,” says Jennifer Clack, posed here with one of her handcrafted dolls.
“I have turned into a positive woman who can stand on my own two feet,” Jennifer says of her first year with the group. “I have become a role model for my children and my family.”
After the first year, Jennifer says Ubunye “recognized the leadership in me.” She joined the Ubunye’s leadership program as well as the village steering committee. Later, she was appointed as coordinator of the craft group.
“Now I can go out there and encourage people to be positive and healthy. I have learned poverty isn’t everything in life—you can make something of yourself.”
Jennifer’s Bobotie
1 lb minced/ground beef
1 tbs tomato paste
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 large onion, diced
1 tbs butter
1 slice of bread, crumbled and soaked in milk
1 tbs curry paste or curry powder
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 lemon, juiced
2 tbs vinegar
1 tbs apricot jam
3 cups milk
3 eggs
Cook the minced beef, adding salt and pepper to taste, a tablespoon of tomato paste and the parsley. Once this is done you can set the meat mixture aside. Now fry the onion in butter and add the curry. Put that aside and beat the eggs and milk together. Now add the lemon juice to the curry, then the jam, coconut milk, bread, and vinegar. Add the beef and a third of the milk and egg mix. Bake this for ten minutes in an uncovered shallow dish at 320°F. Then pour the rest of the milk and egg mixture and put it back in the oven until it browns. Bobotie is typically served with rice and a sweet-and-sour fruit chutney called blatjang.
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