If you’re looking for the perfect side dish to serve with bobotie, you’ve come to the right place.
We know that the ideal side dish can really make or break a meal, so let’s take a look at what sides go well with this famous South African dish.
Read Also: What Vegetables To Serve With Bobotie – 15 Best Veggies
What to Serve with Bobotie (16 Easy Sides)
1. Vegan Jollof Rice
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26599454040603750/Vegan Jollof rice is a delicious side dish that pairs well with Bobotie. It’s made with coconut milk, tomatoes, onions, and spices.
The flavors are very similar to traditional jollof rice, but it’s completely vegan and healthier than a lot of other options!
You can serve this to guests who are vegan or who have dietary restrictions and they’ll never know the difference!
2. Egg Plant Soup
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/93238654770003503/This soup is a lighter alternative to some of the heavier dishes on this list. It’s made with eggplant, onions, tomatoes and spices like ginger, garlic and chili powder.
This soup would be great served alongside something light like Bobotie or a salad.
It’s also great for anyone who has dietary restrictions or is trying to eat more veggies in their diet!
3. Goat Meat Pepper Soup
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/147422587793621479/This soup is hearty and filling without being heavy or overwhelming.
It’s made with goat meat (or beef if you prefer), peppers that have been roasted until tender then simmered in broth for hours until perfectly tender before adding in diced potatoes, carrots, celery and spices like thyme, basil and oregano.
4. Accra Banana
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/103090278961203632/Accra banana is a popular side dish in South Africa.
It’s served with bobotie, as well as many other dishes that contain meat and/or vegetables.
It’s also eaten by itself.
This dish is easy to make, but it does require some time. You have to let the bananas ripen before you can use them.
Once they are ripe, sauté them with onions until they’re browned, then add tomatoes and seasonings.
Accra banana is great because it doesn’t need to be refrigerated after being cooked, so it’s good for people who don’t have access to refrigerators.
5. Tastira (Tunisian Fried Peppers and Eggs)
Tastira is a Tunisian dish of fried peppers and eggs.
It’s a great way to get some protein into your meal without having meat.
The peppers add some crunch and texture to the dish, while the eggs are soft and gooey on top of it all!
6. Algerian Flafla (Bell Pepper Salad)
This is a simple dish that’s perfect for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time in their kitchen!
All you need are bell peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper—and in just five minutes, you’ll have yourself a tasty side dish that pairs perfectly with Bobotie as well as any other dish you might be serving at your next dinner party.
7. Corn Chaff
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/349521621068796973/For a Bobotie (a traditional South African dish) side dish, we recommend combining corn with beans in a slow-simmered dish.
Corn and beans are simmered together for about an hour, and then served alongside the main meal.
8. Ethiopian Cabbage Dish
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101823641564494339/You can also try Ethiopian cabbage, which is cooked until it’s tender but still has a little crunch.
This dish is typically served with meat or fish, but works well with Bobotie as well.
9. Eba
This classic Nigerian dish is made from cassava flour, which gives it a unique texture that you won’t find in any other dish!
It’s great served alongside any kind of meat because it absorbs flavors well, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for something to serve with Bobotie or any other stew or soup.
10. Sweet and Nutty Moroccan Couscous
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/203154633182164036/This side dish is a perfect compliment to Bobotie.
The sweet and nutty flavors really tie into the meatiness of the dish, but it’s light enough not to be too heavy a meal.
Plus, it’s ready in just 15 minutes! Just put the couscous in hot water with some salt and butter.
Once it’s absorbed all the water, add apricots and pine nuts.
Easy peasy!
11. Green Banana Fries
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2885187252774750/These fries are easy to make and only need salt and lemon juice to be delicious!
The green bananas might not look tasty, but they’re very similar in flavor to regular bananas.
They also have a slightly flaky texture when fried that really ties together the dish as a whole.
12. Guinean Peanut Sauce with Butternut Squash
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/46021227434228278/This Guinean recipe for peanut sauce is the perfect way to add a bit of extra flavor to your classic side of butternut squash!
This dish is great for vegans and non-vegans alike (and no one will know it was vegan unless you tell them).
The slightly grainy texture and sweet peanut flavor is SO good on its own—but it’s also the perfect sauce for dipping banana fries in!
13. Mashed Potatoes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/852095192008089355/Mashed potatoes make a great side dish!
Check out these 15 sauces for mashed potatoes!
They’re hearty, creamy and delicious. You can make them in the same pan as the bobotie, so they’ll be ready to eat once you pull it out of the oven.
They’re also super easy to make, so if you’re looking for an easy side dish that will go well with your traditional South African dish, this is it!
Mashed potatoes are also great because they go well with anything else you might be serving at dinner—just add some gravy or ketchup and they’ll taste great with just about anything.
14. South African Yellow Rice
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/110760472075130789/We’re big fans of South African Yellow Rice, which is a delicious side dish to serve at any dinner.
It’s easy to make and is sure to wow your guests!
- To make the South African Yellow Rice, you’ll need two cups of rice and three cups of water.
- Boil the water in a saucepan over high heat, add the rice and bring it back up to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let stand for five minutes before serving.
15. Roasted Root Vegetables
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/56295064083405179/This is a simple and healthy side dish that can be made ahead of time.
All you need are potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips.
You’ll want to roast them until they’re soft but not mushy.
To serve it alongside your Bobotie, cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and put them on a bed of greens or in a bowl.
16. Sautéed Greens
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/201325045830860451/If you haven’t tried sautéing greens before, give it a shot! Sautéing spinach, kale or Swiss chard in olive oil is a quick way to make these leafy greens taste delicious.
- Start by heating up some olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Then add your greens and cook them until they’re wilted and tender but still bright green.
- Serve with the Bobotie!
What Vegetables to Serve with Bobotie
When you’re trying to plan the perfect meal, figuring out what vegetables to serve with bobotie can be tricky.
After all, this dish is already packed with delicious flavors, and if you don’t pair it right, you’ll end up with a clash.
But when you do get it right, you’ve got yourself a party in your mouth!
To help you figure out which veggies will create the perfect complement to your bobotie, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite options.
Whether you’re looking for something simple and easy or something a little more adventurous—or even something that offers a little bit of both—we’ve got the answer for how to pair the most flavorful meat dish on the planet with the right veggies.
Here are our favorite veggies for this meal:
1. Carrots
Carrots are a great vegetable to serve with Bobotie because they’re sweet, and they add a splash of color and variety to your plate.
You can easily peel them and slice them up into little sticks or coins, or you can leave them whole if you’re not in the mood for cutting things up.
They go great with the spicy flavors of the dish, especially when you add some fresh lemon juice to your carrots before serving them.
2. Onions
Onions are another great vegetable to serve with Bobotie because they’re versatile—you can use them raw or cooked in this recipe.
If you want to cook them ahead of time, just slice them up and sauté them in some butter until they’re nice and soft.
Then add them to your serving dish and let them cool off until it’s time to eat!
If you want to serve onions raw with this recipe, just slice them up thin so they don’t overpower other flavors in the dish, then add some salt and pepper before serving.
3. Asparagus
This one is perfect for fans of earthy flavors.
The trick is to cook asparagus just right—not too long or it’ll be mushy, but not too short or it’ll be tough.
For an easy side that works with any meal, try roasting asparagus in a hot oven along with your main dish!
4. Peas
Peas are quick to cook, and they taste great with Bobotie.
One of my favorite ways to cook them is with onions and red chili flakes—it just punches up the flavor without being too spicy.
5. Green beans
Green beans are also super easy to cook.
You can make them even easier by using frozen green beans instead of fresh—just thaw them in some water first and then toss with butter, salt, pepper, and dried dill weed.
6. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is one of those veggies that’s easy to forget about—but we shouldn’t!
It’s so versatile!
Steamed cauliflower makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes. Roasted cauliflower makes a delicious snack.
And if you want to get really crazy, you can even make cauliflower rice.
7. Broccoli
Broccoli is another veggie that’s easy to ignore but shouldn’t be!
It goes well with just about anything, from chicken parmesan to mac ‘n’ cheese—and of course Bobotie!
8. Corn
For a side dish that’ll make your guests wonder if they just jumped into the middle of an Iowa summer festival, try corn on the cob!
Just boil or grill it until the kernels are tender and add some butter or margarine for a decadent dash of flavor.
9. Spinach
Bobotie is already full of protein, so why not add in some healthy greens?
Spinach is creamy and buttery when cooked right, so we like to sauté it in butter flavored with garlic, salt, and pepper until it’s dark green and just starting to wilt.
It goes so well with the rich spices in Bobotie.
10. Sweet potato
Sweet potato fries are the perfect blend of sweet and crunchy—and they’re also super easy!
Just cut up half an inch thick fries, drizzle them in olive oil, add some salt and pepper, bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, and then broil on high for 2-3 minutes.
What Salad to Serve with Bobotie
A lot of people ask us about the right salad to serve with bobotie.
We love this dish, but we know it can be hard to pair it with a salad that complements the flavors and textures.
So, here are our favorite salads to serve with this dish:
1. Corn Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/7107311902694305/This corn salad is also a great side to serve with Bobotie.
Not only is it delicious, but it’s also really easy to make, so you don’t have to worry about spending hours in the kitchen just to make sure that everyone has something good to eat!
Ingredients:
- 1 package of frozen corn (16 oz.)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Directions:
- Cook 1 package of frozen corn according to the package instructions.
- Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, mix together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper.
- Add cooked corn and stir together until combined.
2. East African Salad with Lime and Coriander
This salad is easy to make, and it’s perfect on its own or alongside a spicy dish like Bobotie.
The lime dressing balances out the spice of the dish.
3. Beetroot and Blueberry Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/529313762455894616/This salad is also easy to prepare, but it looks fancy enough to serve at a dinner party with friends.
The sweetness of the beets contrasts nicely with the tartness of the blueberries.
4. Goats Cheese and Radish Salad
This salad is delicious yet simple enough to throw together in just minutes before guests arrive at your house for dinner!
5. Fruit Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101471797844591592/This simple fruit salad is made of watermelon chunks, mango slices, orange segments and strawberries (or any other fruit you like!).
It’s great for summer parties because it requires no cooking at all.
6. North African Cauliflower Salad with Charmoula Dressing
This salad is usually made with cauliflower, chickpeas, almonds, and raisins.
It has a great combination of flavors and textures, and it pairs well with Bobotie because it’s tangy and spicy. This salad has a lot of ingredients, but it’s still pretty easy to make.
7. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2181499812205431/This one is made with quinoa, feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, garlic, lemon juice and fresh oregano or mint leaves.
It’s really tasty when served cold or at room temperature—it’s great if you have people over for dinner who aren’t sure what they want to eat!
8. Tomato and Basil Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/813322013962058925/This is a super-simple, quick salad that requires just three ingredients: tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar. You can add some salt and pepper, but it’s not necessary.
This is a great option if you’re trying to go for a light meal on your meal with Bobotie!
What Is Traditionally Served with Bobotie?
Traditionally, bobotie is served with yellow rice and an array of condiments on the side. On top of the rice, there are often some banana slices, as well as some pickle or chutney for dipping.
What to Serve with Bobotie (16 Easy Sides)
Ingredients
- Vegan Jollof Rice
- Egg Plant Soup
- Goat Meat Pepper Soup
- Accra Banana
- Tastira (Tunisian Fried Peppers and Eggs)
- Algerian Flafla (Bell Pepper Salad)
- Corn Chaff
- Ethiopian Cabbage Dish
- Eba
- Sweet and Nutty Moroccan Couscous
- Green Banana Fries
- Guinean Peanut Sauce with Butternut Squash
- Mashed Potatoes
- South African Yellow Rice
- Roasted Root Vegetables
- Sautéed Greens
Instructions
- Pick a side dish from this list to serve with your African meal.
- Prepare the ingredients according to the recipe.
- Be ready to enjoy your meal in no time!
Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.