Rabbit Casserole Recipes

RABBIT STEW

Steps:

• Using half the flour (3/4 cup) coat the pieces of rabbit, shaking off any excess. Heat the oil and butter in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, and brown the floured rabbit on all sides. Add the celery, carrots, onions, salt, pepper, bay leaves, 6 cups water and red wine, and stew for about 2 hours. Add the potatoes 45 minutes into the stewing process. Once the rabbit and all the vegetables are cooked, use some water to form a paste with the remaining 3/4 cup flour. Stir the flour mixture into the pot as a thickener. Add the already sauteed mushrooms to the stew and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. Adjust seasonings, if necessary, and serve.

RABBIT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Season rabbit bones with mirepoix base, and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish or similar. Roast for 30 minutes, or until browned and fragrant.
• Remove rabbit bones to a saucepan, and add enough water to cover by about 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced by half to provide a stock for the recipe. This will take up to 30 minutes depending on the size of your pan.
• Mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Coat rabbit pieces with the seasoned flour. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the dish used to bake the rabbit bones. Cook rabbit pieces over medium-high heat, or in the oven, just until evenly browned on the outside.
• Remove rabbit pieces, and add the carrots, onion, leek, turnip and potatoes. Add bacon, and if necessary, a little more oil. Place the rabbit pieces over the vegetables. Mix together your homemade rabbit stock and tomato puree; pour into the baking dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil or a lid. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake the rabbit casserole for about 1 hour, or until rabbit is cooked through. Adjust the seasonings to taste. If you wish to use the chocolate, mix it in at this time.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Trim the crusts from the bread slices, and slice in half diagonally or into cubes. Fry bread in oil until lightly browned.
• Serve casserole in the pan, topped with fried bread (or croutons) and sprinkled with chopped parsley.

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.

SLOW-COOKED RABBIT STEW

Steps:

• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Put the prunes in a bowl with the brandy and brown sugar, stir, then set aside to soak.
• Dust the rabbit in the flour. Heat the oil in a large flameproof dish and brown the rabbit all over until golden - you may have to do this in batches. Set the rabbit aside. Add the bacon, vegetables, garlic and herbs to the dish and fry for 5 mins until starting to colour.
• Pour in the red wine and scrape all the goodness off the bottom of the dish. Add the chicken stock and put the rabbit back in the dish with the boozy prunes, then cover and cook for 2 hrs, stirring occasionally, until the rabbit is totally tender. Serve scattered with parsley and wild rice on the side.