Cajun Style Stuffed Rabbit Legs Recipes

CAJUN-STYLE STUFFED RABBIT LEGS

Steps:

• Using small knife or boning knife, starting at top of each thigh bone, cut meat from bone, pushing and scraping as necessary, down to the leg bone. Cut off and reserve thigh bones. Leave leg bone intact and attached to boned thigh.
• Place pieces in a flat dish and sprinkle with 4 tablespoons each of chopped onion and celery, carrot rounds, syrup, 2 tablespoons wine, basil, tarragon, thyme, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne and salt. Blend well and set aside to marinate, preferably overnight in refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Place reserved rabbit bones in one layer in a small skillet and place in oven. Bake until well browned, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven but do not turn off oven. Add remaining 8 tablespoons of wine and the water and bring to boil on top of stove. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes, or until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Discard bones and set sauce aside.
• Put crab meat in a bowl. Heat butter in a small skillet and add remaining 2 tablespoons each of onion and celery, along with sweet pepper and garlic. Cook briefly, stirring, and add to crab meat. Add mustard, remaining 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, sherry, lemon juice, bread crumbs, cream, salt and pepper to taste. Blend well with fingers.
• Open up thigh cavity of each leg and fill with equal portions of crab mixture. Press around top of thigh to compact the filling. Arrange stuffed legs in one layer in a baking dish. Bake in oven 30 minutes.
• To serve, cut each thigh crosswise into four pieces of equal size. Serve with the reheated sherry sauce spooned over.

CREOLE RABBIT - LOUISIANA STYLE

Steps:

• Dry rabbit and place in bowl.
• Combine salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion, garlic and vinegar.
• Pour over rabbit, turning pieces to coat.
• Cover bowl and marinade overnight in refrigerator.
• Transfer rabbit and marinade to well-greased baking dish.
• Bake in preheated 450°F oven 1 hour.
• Combine remaining ingredients and pour over rabbit.
• Bake 30 to 45 minutes longer, until rabbit is fork-tender.
• Serve warm.

BRAISED RABBIT LEGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Pat the rabbit legs dry, and season with salt and pepper. Place a large Dutch oven over high heat, and heat oil until shimmering. Sear the rabbit legs until browned on both sides. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the shallots to the pan, and sauté until tender but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cornichons, brine and vinegar, raise heat and bring to a simmer. Return the rabbit legs to the pan with any accumulated juices. Add enough chicken stock to come to within about 1/2 inch of covering the legs. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
• Cover the pan and bake until the rabbit meat is tender and the leg joint bends easily, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer legs to a plate and keep warm. Skim cornichons and shallots from the sauce and set aside. Return pan to medium-high heat, and boil until sauce is reduced by about half. Whisk in butter a piece at a time, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Return rabbit, cornichons and shallots to the pan until just reheated. Stir in parsley. To serve, place 2 legs on each plate, and top with some shallots, cornichons and sauce.