Marinated And Stewed Rabbit Recipes

SIMPLE ROASTED RABBIT

Steps:

• Defrost and cut the rabbit.
• You will need six parts for roasting: 2 hind legs, 2 front legs, and the backstrap (loin) cut into 2 pieces (Note 2).
• Place the rabbit on a large cutting board lying on its back and open it up. Cut the belly flaps. Go under the armpit and cut the front legs with the whole shoulder.
• Grab the back legs with your hands and break that part open. Find where the tailbone is and cut along there.
• Cut the backbone and the ribs. Find the last rib with your fingers and cut right along that last rib. Repeat on the other side. The whole cut will be like a V. Grab the piece with your hands and break it apart so that you can see the joint between the bones and cut right there.
• Divide the backstrap or the loin in the middle. Find where the vertebra is and cut right there. Press with the knife or use a cleaver.
• Place the pieces in a roasting tin.
• In a small bowl mix olive oil, white wine, 4 grated garlic cloves, 2-3 sprigs chopped rosemary, salt, and pepper. Pour over the meat and turn the meat a few times in the marinade to coat it all over. Cover with plastic wrap/cling film and marinate for at least one hour, preferably 3-4. Remove from the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Add 3-4 whole garlic cloves and the remaining rosemary sprigs to the roasting pan. Pour in the water.
• Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes, flipping the meat pieces about every 10 minutes. If you'd like the meat to get more color, turn on the grill during the last 5 minutes of the cooking time.
• The front legs and back strap pieces are smaller than the hind legs. I usually remove them after 30 minutes already, but I always check to see if the internal temperature is right, it should be 71 degrees Celsius/ 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Checking with a thermometer is the best way to ensure that the rabbit is safe to eat but not overcooked. If you overcook it, it will become dry.

ITALIAN-STYLE BRAISED RABBIT WITH ROSEMARY AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Cut the rabbit into 9 pieces (or ask your butcher to) as follows: with a sharp cleaver, cut the saddle (center portion) into 3 pieces, leaving the kidneys attached. Cut the front portion (front legs) in half through the backbone. Chop each hind leg into 2 pieces. Reserve the liver and heart to sauté as a snack.
• Heat .25 inch of olive oil in a Dutch oven or deep, wide heavy skillet over medium heat. Season the rabbit pieces with salt and pepper, then dust lightly with flour. Lightly brown the rabbit for about 3 minutes on both sides, working in batches. Drain on kitchen towels, then transfer to a baking dish in one layer. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Pour off the used oil, wipe out the pan and add 2 tablespoons fresh oil. Heat to medium-high, add the onions and cook till soft, about 5 minutes. Add the leek, garlic, rosemary and mushrooms. Season generously with salt and pepper, and add red pepper flakes to taste. Cook for 2 minutes more, stirring.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and wine, and let the mixture reduce for 1 minute. Add the broth, bring to a simmer, taste and adjust seasonings.
• Ladle the mixture evenly over the rabbit. Cover the dish, and bake for 1 hour. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

BEST RABBIT STEW

Steps:

• In a large shallow bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients together and stir to mix well.
• Add rabbit pieces and baste them thoroughly.
• Cover the dish and leave to marinate over-night or at least 12 hours.
• Remove the rabbit from the marinade and dry on kitchen paper.
• Strain the marinade into a jug and reserve. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a flame-proof casserole, fry the bacon strips over moderate heat until they are quite crisp.
• Set aside. Add the onions, garlic and carrots to the fat in the casserole and cook them 5 - 6 minutes, or until lightly colored red.
• Add the rabbit pieces and turn frequently to brown them evenly and quickly.
• Add the reserved marinade to the casserole and bring to the boil.
• Remove casserole from the heat, add the bacon pieces and place in the oven.
• Cook for 1 hour or until the thigh of the rabbit is tender when pierced with a fork.

MARINATED AND STEWED RABBIT

Steps:

• *Note: for mushrooms, may use 1 ounce dried porcini, soaked in water to soften, drained (reserve soaking liquid) and mixed with ½ lb button mushrooms.
• Mix the wine, vinegar, and chopped carrot and chopped onion in a bowl large enough to hold the rabbit.
• Tie together the parsley or thyme, or put in a cheesecloth sack or tea ball; add the herb to the marinade with the rabbit; add some salt and pepper.
• Marinate in the refrigerator, turning the rabbit pieces occasionally, for 12-24 hours.
• Strain the marinade, reserving it, and dry the rabbit pieces.
• Cut the bacon into bits and render it over med-low heat in a Dutch oven or large deep skillet.
• When it has given up much of its fat and is becoming nice and crisp, remove it with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add in 2 cups minced onion, diced carrot, and diced celery; cook/stir over med-low heat; chop the mushrooms and add them too.
• When the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes later, remove them with a slotted spoon and set aside with the bacon.
• Turn the heat to med-high; dredge the rabbit pieces in flour, and brown them in the fat that remains in the pan.
• Season them with salt and pepper as they brown.
• When they are browned, decrease the heat and return the vegetables and bacon to the pan; stir, then add the chocolate, some salt, and plenty of pepper.
• Decrease the heat even further, cover, and cook until the rabbit is tender and the sauce is thick, about 1 hour.
• If the sauce is too thin, remove the meat to a warm oven and reduce the sauce over high heat, stirring near constantly, until it is a pleasant thickness.
• Remove the herbs; check and correct seasoning; serve immediately with buttered noodles, rice, or crusty bread.

GRILLED MARINATED RABBIT WITH LEMON AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Place the rabbit pieces in a large shallow bowl. Combine the oil, lemon juice, rosemary leaves, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the rabbit, mix well and allow to marinate for half an hour.
• Heat a charcoal grill or broiler. Cook the rabbit, turning occasionally with tongs, until the pieces are tender but juicy, basting frequently with the marinade. (The legs will take longer than the other pieces.) Garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve.