Butter Chicken Bunny Chow is a South-African meal – tender, saucy, slightly spicy Butter Chicken served in hollowed out bread.

First off, no bunny / rabbit meat in a Bunny Chow ! This is probably one of the most popular Indian take-outs in South-Africa.

Butter Chicken Bunny Chow is one of my versions of a homemade Bunny Chow. There are countless types of fillings which will go well with this, but curry and/or spicy is a must.

Even though Bunny Chows are an Indian dish, it originated, yes by the Indian population, in Kwazulu Natal, South-Africa.

The filling can be served in a quarters (most popular)/thirds and halves of a loaf of bread. My hubby and son can polish off a half, but I can only manage a quarter.

The absolute best Bunny Chows I have ever eaten is in fact in Kwazulu Natal. Up here in Johannesburg, a good one here and there at Indian restaurants, but I prefer making my own.

As I have mentioned a Bunny Chow can have so many different fillings and I know Mutton is always available.

Chicken, Beef and Vegetable fillings are a little less favored, although I prefer a Beef or Chicken filling. Hubby likes his Mutton, but only when we are in Kwazulu Natal !

He is not too fussy when it comes to homemade Bunny Chows.

I prefer to hollow out the bread leaving a thicker wall/base as my fillings are always very saucy. And one of the worst things is a Bunny Chow falling apart before you have even started eating.

Right, how does one eat this thing ? My best answer – with your hands ! Break of a piece of bread, scoop up some filling and enjoy.

In Durban, which is in Kwazulu Natal, I have seen many people buying a Bunny Chow (usually wrapped in newspaper) and just eat away. Then this must be a street food as well, one should think.

But here in Johannesburg, it is usually bought as a take-out for dinner, packed in a bag or box and I haven’t seen anyone around here munching away on the street !

Above is two half sized filled Bunny Chows with a quarter size at the back still to be filled.

Above is a quarter piece, hollowed out. Next to the quarter is the pieces I removed from the two halves as well. This acts as a topping or “cap” once the Bunny Chow has been filled.

Bunny Chows

A Hollowed out piece of bread, filled with a curry and/or spicy filling.
Different popular fillings include – Mutton, Chicken, Beef, Lamb and Vegetables.
Originated in Kwazulu Natal by the Indian population.
A Quarter Bunny Chow is also known as a KOTA.
The name is a little baffling as it has nothing to do with bunnies/rabbits – Some believes the name was derived from eating like a bunny – with your hands ! Another possible is that Bunny comes from the word Banya which was what the earlier Indian population was known as in Durban.
Chow ? Well, that is obvious ! Chow is eat 🙂 more a of a slang word in my opinion !

And off we go ! Ready to serve – topped with a sprinkling of Parsley (I prefer Cilantro, but my family is not too crazy for Cilantro) and the bread removed earlier to form the hollow.

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Butter Chicken Bunny Chow

Linda Nortje

Butter Chicken Bunny Chow is a South-African meal, originated by the Indian community in Kwazulu Natal - tender, saucy, slightly spicy Butter Chicken served in hollowed out bread

5 from 8 votes

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Course Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine South-African

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings Servings

Ingredients

MARINADE:

1 cup Greek Yogurt plain
1 TB Fresh Garlic crushed
2 TB Fresh Ginger finely grated
2 t Ground Cumin
1 t Ground Coriander
1 TB Curry Powder mild or strong
675 g Chicken Fillets cubed ( 1 1/2 pounds )

1 TB Oil
1 Onion roughly chopped
1 can (410g) Chopped Tomatoes
1 TB Tomato Paste
½ cup Fresh Cream (double cream)
Salt to taste

TO SERVE:

6 Bread Quarters hollowed out, (or 3 halves for 3 large servings)
Parsley or Cilantro optional

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients for the marinade - add the Chicken, stir through and transfer to a marinade bowl - chill for at least 2 hours.
Heat the Oil in a medium saucepan - saute the Onion 2 - 3 minutes until soft - add the Chicken (with the marinade) - cook 5 minutes.
Stir in the Chopped Tomatoes and Tomato Paste - bring to the boil - reduce heat and simmer 10 - 12 minutes or until Chicken is fully cooked.
Pour over the Fresh Cream, stir and heat through - remove from heat.
Season to taste with Salt.

TO SERVE:

Scoop Butter Chicken into hollowed out Bread - serve topped with Parsley or Cilantro (if using) and the pieces of bread removed earlier.

Notes

Total Time excludes marinating time
Filling is enough for 6 quarter sized or 3 half sized Bunny Chows

Recommendations:

Best parts of Bread to use are the ends (with the crust)
1/2 (or even 1/3) a bread is enough for a HUNGRY adult
1/4 bread is a standard serving, but serve a crunchy side salad as well, if serving for dinner

Nutrition value, where given, is not always accurate. Please also check your ingredient labels.