Bunny Chow (Durban Curry in a Bread Loaf)
In short: A hollowed-out quarter loaf of white bread filled with spicy Durban-style lamb and potato curry, eaten by hand with a carrot sambal. It takes about 2 h 5 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 40 min
- Total
- 2 h 5 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 880 kcal
Bunny chow is a Durban street food that puts a spicy curry inside a hollowed-out loaf of white bread, so the bread is both the bowl and part of the meal. Lamb or mutton curry with potatoes is the classic filling, though chicken and butter bean versions are everywhere. It is eaten with the hands, tearing off pieces of bread to scoop up sauce, and finishing with the sauce-soaked base.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, cumin seeds and curry leaves and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the onions and cook for 10 minutes until deep golden.
- Stir in the garlic and ginger for 1 minute, then the curry powder, turmeric and garam masala for 1 minute, adding a splash of water if anything sticks.
- Add the tomatoes and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until they break down and the oil begins to separate.
- Add the lamb and the salt and brown for 5 minutes, stirring. Pour in the hot water, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 45 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes more, until the lamb is very tender and the sauce is thick. Remove the cinnamon stick.
- Mix the carrot sambal ingredients in a small bowl. Cut a well in the top of each bread piece, leaving a wall about 2 cm (3/4 inch) thick, and keep the scooped-out bread for dipping.
- Ladle the hot curry into the bread, set the scooped bread on top as a lid and scatter with coriander. Serve with the sambal and eat with your hands.
Tips
- Chicken thighs (cook 40 minutes in total) or two cans of butter beans (30 minutes) make good alternatives, and the beans give a vegetarian version.
- Use a firm, day-old white loaf. A very fresh, soft loaf collapses under the hot curry.
Questions and answers
How do you eat a bunny chow?
Tear pieces off the bread lid and use them to scoop up the curry, using your right hand rather than cutlery. Finish with the sauce-soaked bread at the bottom.
What is traditionally inside a bunny chow?
Lamb or mutton curry with potatoes is the classic filling. Butter bean curry and chicken curry are also very common.
Can I make the curry ahead of time?
Yes, and it improves overnight. Refrigerate it for up to 3 days and reheat, but fill the bread just before serving so it does not turn soggy.
How long does it take to make Bunny Chow (Durban Curry in a Bread Loaf)?
About 2 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bunny Chow (Durban Curry in a Bread Loaf)?
About 880 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 98 g of carbohydrates and 37 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 880 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 98 g |
| Fat | 37 g |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 1700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
