South African bunny chow with lentils guide
Bunny Chow, originating from Durban's Indian community, is a renowned South African street food. Traditionally, it features a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry. In our vegetarian and eggless version, we use lentils instead of meat, maintaining the dish's rich flavors. It's an ideal choice for exploring international cuisine from your kitchen. Let's start cooking.
Gather the following ingredients
To make this vegetarian bunny chow, you'll need one large loaf of unsliced white bread, two cups of cooked lentils (any variety), one large onion, finely chopped, two tomatoes, diced, three cloves of garlic, minced, one tablespoon of curry powder (adjust according to taste), half a teaspoon of turmeric powder, salt to taste, fresh coriander for garnish, and two tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Prepare the lentil curry
Begin by warming the vegetable oil in a large pan over a medium flame. Proceed to add the finely chopped onions, sauteing them until they become translucent. Following this, incorporate the minced garlic, cooking it for an additional minute to bring out its aroma. This step is essential for creating a rich base for your curry, contributing significantly to its overall depth of flavor.
Add spices and tomatoes
First, stir in the curry powder and turmeric powder with the onions and garlic. Allow these to cook for about two minutes, enabling the spices to fully release their rich flavors. Next, introduce the diced tomatoes to the mix, adding a splash of water if necessary to prevent sticking. Continue to cook this mixture until the tomatoes soften and start forming a sauce.
Mix in lentils
Incorporate the cooked lentils into the tomato and onion mixture, seasoning with salt according to your preference. Should the mixture appear too thick, gradually add water until achieving a hearty yet moist consistency. Allow the combination to simmer for approximately 10 minutes, enabling the flavors to integrate and develop fully. This process is crucial for enriching the dish's overall taste profile.
Prepare bread bowl
As your lentil curry simmers, cut off the top quarter of your bread loaf. Carefully hollow out its center, leaving enough thickness to hold the filling. Reserve the removed bread pieces for serving or as croutons. Spoon hot lentil curry into each bread bowl and garnish with fresh coriander leaves for an authentic South African experience at home.
