{"id":"bunny_chow_78a091dcae","slug":"bunny-chow","title":"Bunny Chow","description":"A South African street food classic: a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with a rich, spicy lamb curry. This iconic Durban dish is hearty, aromatic, and meant to be eaten with your hands.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":20,"cookMinutes":45,"totalMinutes":65,"activeMinutes":25},"ingredients":[{"id":"ingredient-1","original":"500g lamb or mutton, cubed","name":"Mutton","quantity":500,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1.1,"usUnit":"lb","form":"cubed","notes":"or mutton","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-2","original":"2 tablespoons vegetable oil","name":"Vegetable Oil","quantity":30,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"liquid","notes":"","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-3","original":"1 large onion, finely chopped","name":"Onion","quantity":1,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"piece","form":"finely chopped","notes":"large","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-4","original":"3 cloves garlic, minced","name":"Garlic","quantity":3,"unit":"clove","usQuantity":3,"usUnit":"clove","form":"minced","notes":"","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-5","original":"1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated","name":"Ginger","quantity":15,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"grated","notes":"fresh","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-6","original":"3 tablespoons Durban curry powder","name":"Curry Powder","quantity":24,"unit":"g","usQuantity":3,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"powder","notes":"Durban style preferred","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-7","original":"1 cinnamon stick","name":"Cinnamon Stick","quantity":1,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"piece","form":"stick","notes":"","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-8","original":"1 sprig curry leaves","name":"Curry Leaves","quantity":1,"unit":"sprig","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"sprig","form":"fresh","notes":"","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-9","original":"2 tomatoes, diced","name":"Tomato","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"diced","notes":"","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-10","original":"2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed","name":"Potatoes","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"peeled and cubed","notes":"medium","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-11","original":"500ml beef stock or water","name":"Beef Stock","quantity":500,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"cup","form":"liquid","notes":"or water","group":"Curry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-12","original":"2 unsliced white loaves","name":"White bread","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"unsliced loaf","notes":"to be halved","group":"Serving","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-13","original":"Fresh cilantro for garnish","name":"Cilantro","quantity":1,"unit":"pinch","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"pinch","form":"fresh","notes":"to taste","group":"Serving","optional":true}],"instructions":[{"id":"instruction-1","text":"Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, cinnamon stick, and curry leaves. Sauté until the onion is golden brown and translucent.","group":"Curry Base","title":"Heat the vegetable oil","timerMinutes":8,"sourceTitle":"Curry Base"},{"id":"instruction-2","text":"Stir in the garlic, ginger, and curry powder. Fry for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the spices.","group":"Curry Base","title":"Stir in the garlic, ginger, and curry powder","timerMinutes":1,"sourceTitle":"Curry Base"},{"id":"instruction-3","text":"Add the cubed lamb or mutton to the pot. Cook until the meat is browned on all sides.","group":"Meat","title":"Add the cubed lamb or mutton","timerMinutes":10,"sourceTitle":"Meat"},{"id":"instruction-4","text":"Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften. Then, add the cubed potatoes and pour in the beef stock or water.","group":"Simmer","title":"Add the chopped tomatoes","timerMinutes":5,"sourceTitle":"Simmer"},{"id":"instruction-5","text":"Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 40-45 minutes, or until the meat is tender and the potatoes are soft and the gravy has thickened.","group":"Simmer","title":"Reduce the heat to low","timerMinutes":45,"sourceTitle":"Simmer"},{"id":"instruction-6","text":"While the curry is simmering, prepare the bread. Cut each loaf in half. Scoop out the white center of each half, leaving a thick wall of crust. Keep the scooped-out bread (the 'plug') aside.","group":"Assembly","title":"Prepare the bread","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Assembly"},{"id":"instruction-7","text":"Ladle the hot curry into the hollowed-out loaves. Garnish with fresh cilantro and place the bread plug on top or to the side. Serve immediately.","group":"Assembly","title":"Ladle the hot curry","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Assembly"}],"notes":"Always use unsliced loaves of bread. The 'crumb' or 'plug' (the bread you scoop out) is used for dipping into the curry first. Traditionally, Bunny Chow is eaten with fingers, not cutlery.","cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["South African","Durban"]},"course":["main"],"cookingMethod":["simmer","saute"],"equipment":["large pot","knife","cutting board"],"diet":["high_protein"],"allergens":["wheat","gluten"],"difficulty":"medium","yield":{"amount":4,"unit":"portion","note":"Four half-loaf servings"},"makeAhead":{"instructions":"The curry can be made up to 2 days in advance as the flavors develop. Reheat thoroughly before filling the bread."},"storage":{"food":{"instructions":"Store leftover curry in an airtight container in the fridge. Do not store the bread filled with curry as it will become soggy.","reheatingNotes":"Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water."}},"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fbunny_chow_78a091dcae%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=dc8d17c1-e8de-484e-9953-4a104e10f6ee","imageAlt":"Bunny Chow — recipe cover","aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","sourceUrl":"","tags":["spicy","street food","curry","lamb","south african"],"schemaVersion":1,"sourceTitle":"Bunny Chow","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-02-04T22:05:21.594Z","sourceUpdatedAt":"2026-02-04T22:05:21.594Z","related":[{"id":"recipe_17142e2daf","slug":"asida-traditional-african-porridge","title":"Asida (Traditional African Porridge)","description":"A thick, smooth, cooked flour pudding popular across North and East Africa, typically served with melted butter and honey or date syrup for a comforting breakfast.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":25,"totalMinutes":30,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Sudanese","Libyan"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_17142e2daf%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=e46cb0f8-07cd-453d-8e07-df1274fe8fc9","imageAlt":"Asida (Traditional African Porridge) — recipe cover","tags":["porridge","traditional","sweet","dough","filling","soft"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":5,"stepCount":5},{"id":"recipe_e6582a3999","slug":"firfir-ethiopian-breakfast-fit-fit","title":"Firfir (Ethiopian Breakfast Fit-fit)","description":"A classic savory Ethiopian breakfast made with torn pieces of injera soaked in a spicy, flavorful sauce of berbere spice, aromatics, and spiced clarified butter.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":10,"cookMinutes":15,"totalMinutes":25,"activeMinutes":15},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ethiopian","Eritrean"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_e6582a3999%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=f2f625e4-ee9c-425d-8c20-8e0103664b3e","imageAlt":"Firfir (Ethiopian Breakfast Fit-fit) — recipe cover","tags":["firfir","ethiopian","spicy","breakfast","injera","african"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":10,"stepCount":5},{"id":"recipe_18a4e55c12","slug":"kitfo-ethiopian-minced-beef","title":"Kitfo (Ethiopian Minced Beef)","description":"A traditional Ethiopian delicacy featuring finely minced lean beef seasoned with spicy mitmita and rich, aromatic niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter).","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":15,"cookMinutes":5,"totalMinutes":20,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ethiopian"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["high_protein","gluten_free","low_carb"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_18a4e55c12%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=aeedadce-d5d5-4aa2-aa31-f13472950759","imageAlt":"Kitfo (Ethiopian Minced Beef) — recipe cover","tags":["beef","spicy","ethiopian","kitfo","high-protein","african-cuisine"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":5,"stepCount":4}]}