Vegetarian Bobotie

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: about 55 minutes

200g red lentils

500ml water

2ml salt

5ml vegetable stock powder

50g butter

1 large carrot, finely shredded

2 sticks celery, finely chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

60g mushrooms, finely chopped

10ml curry powder, or to taste

100g hazelnuts, finely chopped

100g pecan nuts, finely chopped

1 slice brown bread

60ml milk

30ml tomato sauce

80ml fruit chutney

60ml apricot jam

125ml sultanas

salt to taste

1 egg, beaten

For the topping

2 eggs

5ml curry powder

Preheat the oven to 180°C. To cook lentils in the microwave, place them in a microwave bowl. Cover with the water and add salt and vegetable stock powder. Cover and microwave on 70% power for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender, stirring twice. Let lentils cool.

Melt butter and sauté vegetables for 5 minutes, then stir in curry powder and cook for a minute. Mix in lentils and nuts. Soak bread in the milk for a few minutes, then stir softened bread into the mixture. Mix in remaining ingredients.

Grease a baking dish or 4 to 6 individual casseroles. Turn mixture into the prepared dish or casseroles. Combine eggs, curry powder and salt for the topping and spoon over the vegetable mixture. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes for a large dish or 30 to 35 minutes for individual casseroles.

#vegetarian #bobotie