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The Recipe · No.737 · Bunny Chow

Bunny Chow, and where to source it

Bunny Chow — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Bunny Chow South African 5best2buy.com

It is a curry-in-a-loaf, and the loaf is functional: you hollow out a half-loaf and the crumb walls have to be sturdy enough to hold a wet curry without collapsing, so a dense white bread works where an airy one turns to mush. The curry itself is a proper long-simmered Durban curry, thick enough to sit in the bread rather than run through it.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep20 min
Cook50 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineSouth African
Cost$$$
Dairy-free
Contains  gluten
Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 servings
White bread loaf
A dense, sturdy unsliced loaf, halved and hollowed. It has to hold a wet curry.
1 loaf
Lamb or chicken
Cut in chunks for a long, tender braise. Pasture-raised meat has real flavor under the spice.
1.5 lb
Curry spices
A Durban-style masala with plenty of chili and curry leaf. It is bold and hot.
3 tbsp
Potatoes and tomato
Potato chunks thicken the curry and tomato builds the base. Fresh, bought local.
3 cups
Onion, garlic and ginger
The aromatic base cooked down before the spices. Fresh.
to taste
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●● Squeaky clean
About as virtuous as dinner gets.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot
The Method
  1. Build the baseCook onion, garlic, and ginger to gold, then bloom the masala in oil until fragrant.
  2. Braise the curryAdd the meat and tomato, then potatoes, and simmer low until thick and the meat is tender.
  3. Hollow the loafHalve the loaf, pull out the center to make a bread bowl, and keep the torn crumb.
  4. Fill and serveLadle the thick curry into the bread, top with the pulled-out crumb, and eat with your hands.
The Toolkit

Dutch oven · Serrated knife · Wooden spoon

Straight Answers
Can you make Bunny Chow in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Bunny Chow? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Bunny Chow ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Bunny Chow gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).

Is Bunny Chow vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

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