Bunny Chow
Durban's iconic street food – a hollowed-out bread loaf filled with a rich, spicy curry. This dish is a delicious testament to Indian-South African fusion cuisine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 Small, unsliced white bread loaves(Approximately 500g each. Day-old bread can be slightly easier to hollow out but fresh bread is preferred for texture.)
- 700 g Lamb shoulder or boneless chicken thighs(Cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm).)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil or ghee(For sautéing.)
- 2 Medium onions(Finely chopped.)
- 4 Garlic cloves(Minced or grated.)
- 2 cm piece Fresh ginger(Peeled and grated or minced.)
- 1 tbsp Garlic-ginger paste(If not using fresh garlic and ginger.)
- 3 tbsp Curry powder(A good quality medium-hot curry powder is recommended.)
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ground coriander
- 0.5 tsp Turmeric powder
- 0.5 tsp Chilli powder or cayenne pepper(Adjust to your spice preference.)
- 1 (400g) can Canned chopped tomatoes
- 300 ml Beef or lamb stock
- 2 Potatoes(Medium-sized, peeled and cut into 2cm cubes.)
- 10-15 Fresh curry leaves(Optional, but adds authentic flavour.)
- to taste Salt
- small bunch Fresh coriander leaves(Chopped, for garnish.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the curry base: Heat the oil or ghee in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until softened and lightly golden, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and ginger (or garlic-ginger paste) and cook for another minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Add the meat to the pot and brown it on all sides. Once browned, stir in the curry powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, and chilli powder. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Pour in the chopped tomatoes and the stock. Add the cubed potatoes and curry leaves (if using). Season with salt. Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 4
Bring the curry to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it cook gently for at least 1 hour (for chicken) or 1 hour 15 minutes (for lamb), or until the meat is tender and the potatoes are cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The sauce should thicken to a rich, saucy consistency. If it becomes too dry, add a little more stock or water.
⏱️ 1 hour 15 minutes - 5
While the curry is simmering, prepare the bread. Using a sharp serrated knife, carefully cut off the top third of each bread loaf. Then, hollow out the inside of each loaf, leaving a sturdy shell of bread about 1.5-2 cm thick. Be careful not to puncture the sides or bottom. You can tear the removed bread into bite-sized pieces for serving or discard.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 6
Once the curry is ready and has reached your desired consistency, taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Ladle the hot curry generously into the hollowed-out bread loaves. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 7
Serve the bunny chow immediately. The bread will absorb the delicious curry sauce as you eat. Use the removed bread 'lid' or pieces of the hollowed-out bread to scoop up the curry.
⏱️ Immediate
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For best results, use slightly stale bread as it holds its shape better when filled.
- ✓Ensure the bread walls are thick enough to contain the curry without becoming soggy too quickly.
- ✓The curry should be saucy and flavourful, as the bread will absorb a lot of the liquid.
- ✓Adjust the spice level by modifying the amount of chilli powder or using hotter curry powder.
- ✓If you prefer a thicker curry, you can simmer it uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Vegetarian Bunny Chow: Substitute the meat with mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, beans, cauliflower) or a firm paneer.
- Bean Bunny: Use a hearty bean curry (like kidney beans or butter beans) for a vegetarian option.
- Mutton Bunny Chow: Traditionally, mutton is often used, which requires a longer simmering time to become tender.