Cape Malay Bunny Chow

https://foodloversmarket.co.za/recipes/cape-malay-bunny-chow/

One of the top ways to use our famous Ouma Bread loaf…dig out the middle and fill it with a delicious curry. We’ve got the best of both Worlds, with a Cape and Durban fusion. This recipes uses a Cape Malay curry recipe, made into a Bunny Chow. BUT, you can fill it with any curry you love!

For those who don’t know the South African Bunny Chow…it does not involve bunnies at all!! “Bunny chow often referred to simply as a bunny, is a South African fast food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry. It originated among Indian South Africans of Durban.”

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Cooking Methods

  • Cooking

Serves

6

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cooking Time

1 hour

Ingredients

For the Cape Malay Curry:

  • 500 g boneless and skinless chicken
  • 30 ml (2 Tbsp) oil
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 3 cm fresh ginger, grated
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 15 ml (1 Tbsp) turmeric powder
  • 45 ml (3 Tbsp) masala
  • 5 ml (1 tsp) chilli powder
  • 15 ml (1 Tbsp) vinegar
  • 15 ml (1 Tbsp) sugar
  • 3 potatoes, peeled and cut into 3-4 cm blocks
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Bunny Chow:

  • 2 Food Lover's freshly baked Ouma brood / breads
  • 3 tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
  • ½ cucumber, diced
  • ½ red onion, diced
  • Plain full cream yoghurt
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • Fresh coriander, to taste

Directions

For the Cape Malay Curry:

  1. Heat a large pot over a medium heat with the oil, brown the chicken pieces, sauté the onions, garlic, ginger and spices for about 4-5 minutes. Add the vinegar and sugar.
  2. Add the potatoes and 3-4 cups of water, place the lid on and cook on a low-medium heat for about 30-40 minutes. Season to taste.
  3. Open the lid and reduce to a thicker consistency.

    4. For the Bunny Chow:

    1. Slice the Ouma bread into 2-3 pieces and hollow out the middle without breaking the bottom open. Reserve the extra bread for serving.
    2. Combine the tomatoes, cucumber and red onion, season to taste.
    3. Combine the yoghurt, lemon zest and juice and season to taste.
    4. To assemble, dish the curry into the bread, finish with the sambal, lemon yoghurt and fresh coriander.

Notes

Where does the term “Bunny Chow’ Come from?

Bunny is another variation from the word “Bania“, an Indian class of traders who sold this tasty street food.

What other curries can I use for a bunny chow?

Traditionally, a bunny chow comes from Durban where you will find hotter, spicier curries like a classic “Durban Curry”, or just a spicy lamb or mutton curry. You can also use a spicy veg curry and make this a vegan or vegetarian bunny chow.

Here are some other curry recipes to cook and use inside the bunny chow:

Courgette pappardelle
almond milk vegan alfredo
Vegan Alfredo Pasta