Bredie

Coasty's Note:

Bredie is a subtly flavoured meat and vegetable stew, introduced to South African cuisine by the Cape Muslims.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 kg pumpkin , cubed
• 50 g butter
• 700 g mutton , cut into pieces
• 2 medium onions , chopped
• 1 cm fresh ginger , chopped
• 1 chili , chopped
• 1 garlic clove , crushed
• 2 cardamom seeds , pounded
• 2 coriander seeds , pounded
• 200 ml water
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 sticks cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Peel the pumpkin and cut into 5cm cubes.
2. Heat butter and brown the meat in the pot with onions, ginger, chilli, garlic, cardamom and coriander seeds. Pour on a little of the water or water and wine, then cover.
3. Simmer on very low heat for 90 minutes, shaking from time to time and adding liquid when necessary.
4. Add pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks,salt, pepper and a little liquid.
5. Cover and simmer slowly, stirring carefully, or shaking from time to time, until the pumpkin is soft and the meat is tender (about 30 minutes).
6. There should be very little liquid, so watch the pot carefully and remove the cover to evaporate excess moisture if necessary.
7. Add the lemon juice to the bredie at the end of the cooking.
8. Note: Its flavour is derived from meat and vegetable juices. Very little liquid is added.
9. The 200ml water listed among the ingredients should be used sparingly and with discretion throughout cooking. It is used only to prevent the bredie from sticking to the pot. There should be no actual gravy.
10. Serve white rice.