Preheat oven to 180° Celcius

Lightly brown onions, garlic, green pepper, carrot, baby marrows & apple in hot oil or butter. If using raw meat, sautee separately, until slightly done. Break up lumps with a fork.

Soak the bread in the milk, squeeze out the milk but reserve it. Mash the bread

Mix the meat with the remaining ingredients except 125ml of reserved milk, 1 egg and the lemon or bay leaves.

Spoon the mixture into a greased oven dish, spreading it evenly. Half the lemon leaves length wise if using. Roll up the leaves and insert them in an upright position in the meat mixture.

Bake for 1 hour if using raw meat or for 30min if using cooked meat.

Whisk together the remaining egg, 1ml salt and the remaining milk. Pour over the meat 20min before the end of the cooking time.

Serve with rice & chutney.

Tip : to make a vegetarian bobotie, add 250gram grated butternut to the vegetables and substitute 500ml cooked brown lentils for the mince. Serve with rice & a salad.