I’m sure you’ve all been recommended Bunny Chow when visiting the major cities in South Africa, especially Durbs. But if you don’t know what it is, you’ll be forgiven for being confused by this oddly misleading dish. Despite what its name implies, the Bunny Chow is not made out of or for bunny rabbits. Instead, it is a much loved meal enjoyed by humans around the country.  Here is everything you need to know about the Bunny Chow:

What is a Bunny Chow? 

Bunny Chow is a delectable street food consisting of a hollowed out loaf of white bread, filled to the brim with steaming curry, from chicken and vegetable, to mutton, beef, or even bean curry. The bread is removed from the inside of the loaf to make room for the curry and the remaining piece of bread is used as a lid. The bread can then be used to scoop out the curry.

Bunny Chow (Wikipedia)

Where did it come from? 

There are a couple of ideas circulating about the origins of Bunny Chow, but popular belief attributes its creation to the 1940s by a restaurant known as Banias. The owners created the dish for Indians who weren’t allowed in public spaces during the apartheid era, and would serve Bunny Chow as “takeaways” through the back windows of their shop. Another school of thought is that the Bunny Chow originated from Indian migrant workers who needed a way to carry their lunch to the sugar cane plantations.

How do I eat it? 

Locals eat Bunny Chow with their hands. Simply tear the pieces from the top and sides of the bread and dip it into the curry. Delicious!

Bunny Chow by ramenfuel (Flickr)

How can I make my own?

Preparation time: 35 min
Cooking time: 50 min

Ingredients

  • Dash of oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • Pinch masala or hot curry powder
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 500g boneless lamb or mutton, cubed
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes
  • 2 large potatoes, cubed
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 loaf fresh white bread, unsliced
  • 2 fresh tomatoes, sliced
  • Fresh coriander leaves – to serve 

Optional extras:

  • Lemon juice
  • 1 tub plain yoghurt, low-fat
  • 1 bunch coriander or basil leaves, to serve
  • 3 tbsp garam masala
  • 1 can butterbeans, drained
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 whole cardamom pods
  • ½ tsp fennel seed
  • ½ tsp cumin seed 

Bunny Chow by Cafe Spice

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat.
  2. Fry the onion for around 5 minutes until it becomes soft and golden.
  3. Add the masala and chilli powder and fry for 1–2 minutes until the pan becomes sticky. If the pot starts to stick, add a small amount of water.
  4. Add the meat, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry for about a minute.
  5. Add the tinned tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, sugar, salt, and pepper, and stir until mixed.
  6. Allow to simmer over medium heat for around half an hour or until the potatoes are cooked and the meat is tender.
  7. Cut the loaf of bread into halves and then scoop out the soft centre of the bread to create a bowl for the curry.
  8. Ladle in the curry and cover the top with the remainder of the removed bread.
  9. Serve with a salad of tomato and fresh coriander leaves on the side.

The above recipe has been adapted from Jan Braai’s recipe on Food24. 

Bunny Chow by fabulousfabs (Flickr)

Where can I get it?

Durban

  1. Victory Lounge: Corner of Dr Yusuf Dadoo and Bertha Mkhize Streets. +27 (0)31 306 1906+27 (0)31 306 1906
  2. Patel’s Vegetarian Refreshment Room: 202 Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street. +27 (0)31 306 1774+27 (0)31 306 1774
  3. Gounden’s Restaurant & Takeaway: 520 Umbilo Road. +27 (0)31 205 5363+27 (0)31 205 5363 

Cape Town

  1. Café Spice: Rheede Street Mall, Rheede Street and Kloof, Gardens. +27 (0)21 422 2766+27 (0)21 422 2766
  2. Sunrise Chips ‘n Ranch: 94 Main Road, Mowbray. +27 (0)21 689 3250+27 (0)21 689 3250
  3. Eastern Food Bazaar: 96 Long Market Street, CBD. +27 (0)21 461 2458+27 (0)21 461 2458

Joburg

  1. Bombay Palace: All Saints Shopping Centre, Corner of President Fouche & Windsorway Drive, Olivedale, North Riding, Randburg. +27 (0)11 704 3136+27 (0)11 704 3136
  2. The Curry Palace: Ferndale Village, Corner Oxford Street & Main Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg. +27 (0)11 7816750+27 (0)11 7816750
  3. Taste of Punjab: Sunninghill Centre, Corner of Tana & Naivasha Road, Sunninghill, Sandton. +27 (0)11 234 2300+27 (0)11 234 2300 

 

Have you tried Bunny Chow? Let us know any cooking tips in the comments below!

 

You may also like: Chilli poppers – the perfect winter starter recipe, The Oyster Box Lamb Curry Recipe, and our blue cheese and chive mash recipe!

 

Main image credited to ramenfuel (Flickr)