Bobotie

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 medium onions, finely chopped

1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger (1 1/2-inch piece)

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 1/2 tablespoons Madras curry powder

2 pounds lean ground beef

1/2 cup slivered almonds (1 ounce), toasted

4 slices white bread, crusts removed

1 3/4 cups whole milk, divided

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

2 tablespoons apricot preserves

2 tablespoon hot chutney

4 large eggs

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

4 fresh or dried bay leaves

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, then onions, apple, and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden brown and tender, about 15 minutes. (Reduce heat if vegetables brown too quickly.) Add turmeric and curry powder to onion mixture; stir to combine. Add beef and cook, breaking up large pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Stir in almonds, and cook for 2 minutes more.

2. Tear bread into large pieces, and place in a small bowl. Add 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and let stand until milk is absorbed. Add bread mixture to beef, and cook, stirring frequently, until bottom of pan begins to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in dried apricots, apricot preserves and chutney, scraping up browned bits from bottom. Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper.

3. Spoon beef mixture into a 6-cup shallow baking dish. Whisk eggs, nutmeg, lemon zest, and remaining 1 1/2 cups milk in a medium bowl. Pour over beef. Place bay leaves in dish, pressing into filling. Bake until set around edges and center is no longer runny, 35 to 45 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with Cinnamon Basmati Rice.