Rabbit With Prunes Recipes

RABBIT AND PRUNE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Put the prunes in a small saucepan and pour in the brandy. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, turning the prunes regularly, then set aside.
• Melt half the butter with the oil in a large frying pan. Season the rabbit all over and fry in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Transfer the rabbit to a large flameproof casserole dish.
• Fry the bacon in the same pan for 4-5 minutes, or until the fat is crisp, adding a little extra oil if necessary. Scatter it over the rabbit. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
• Melt the remaining butter in the frying pan and gently fry the shallots for 5-6 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.
• Stir the flour into the pan and cook for a few seconds before slowly adding the wine and half the stock, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens. Add the mustards, bay leaf and thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer and season with a little salt and lots of pepper. Carefully pour the stock mixture into the casserole dish, along with the remaining stock, and bring everything to a simmer.
• Remove the casserole dish from the heat, cover with greaseproof paper and put the lid on. Bake for 1½-2 hours, or until the meat is very tender, contains no trace of pink and is starting to fall off the bone. Test the rabbit with a knife; if it doesn't slide in easily, return the casserole to the oven.
• Place the casserole back on the hob, remove the lid and stir in the cream, prunes and brandy. Simmer gently for a few minutes, until the prunes are hot, stirring carefully so the rabbit doesn't completely fall apart. Adjust the seasoning if needed, scatter with the parsley and serve with bread or Gruyère croutons.

BELGIAN RABBIT WITH PRUNES IN WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• MARINADE: Combine all ingredients for marinade in large plastic bag. Place bag in shallow glass, stainless steel or plastic bowl.
• Remove head from rabbit and cut the rest into 6 pieces. Place in bag with marinade; close top firmly with a twist tie and lay flat in dish. Marinate rabbit pieces, turning bag periodically, for 2 to 4 hours.
• Soak prunes in water while rabbit marinates.
• Remove rabbit from marinade and wipe dry; reserve marinade. Toss meat in flour and reserve on paper towels. Strain marinade, pressing out and reserving all liquid.
• In large heavy saucepan, melt butter, add oil and, over medium high heat, brown rabbit. With slotted spoon, remove rabbit and set aside. Saute onions for 5 minutes; return rabbit to pan and add salt, pepper, wine, strained marinade, prunes and their soaking water. Mix gently but thoroughly to blend all ingredients. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 30 to 40 minutes or until rabbit is tender and sauce thickened.
• Taste, adjusting seasoning if desired. Transfer to heated serving bowl and garnish with orange peel. Makes 6 servings.
• Canadian Living.

RABBIT WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• In a small glass or ceramic bowl, macerate the prunes in the cognac for at least 1 hour.
• In another bowl, combine the rabbit, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves and enough white wine to cover, and chill mixture, covered, overnight.
• Transfer rabbit with a slotted spoon to a plate, reserving marinade.
• Pat it dry and season.
• Brown rabbit in butter over moderately-high heat and transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate.
• Add onion and cook until softened.
• Add rabbit and any juices that have accumulated and 2 tblsps flour, and cook mixture, turning rabbit to coat with flour, for 3 minutes.
• Add marinade, 1/3 of prunes, including 1 tblsp of cognac, broth, garlic, shallot, tomato paste and season.
• Bring to the boil and simmer, covered, for 20-25 minutes, or until rabbit is tender.
• Add reserved liver, chopped, and simmer 5 minutes.
• Transfer rabbit and prunes with slotted spoon to a plate.
• Skim cooking liquid, strain it into another pot and add crème fraiche, rabbit, prunes, and remaining prunes and season to taste.
• Simmer until rabbit is heated through.

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.

RABBIT IN RED WINE WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Simmer the prunes over low heat in one cup wine for 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Chop the bacon into half-inch strips. Saute in a large casserole until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Empty out the bacon fat. Add the peanut oil and heat. Dredge the pieces of rabbit lightly with flour and brown them, a few at a time, in the oil. Add the leeks and carrots. Brown lightly, then add the garlic and cook for two minutes, stirring.
• Return the rabbit pieces to the pan. Add the prunes, with their juice, the remaining wine and the chicken stock. Season with thyme and pepper. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Add the bacon and continue cooking for 10 minutes, or until the rabbit is tender. If the stew is too dry, add a little stock or water.

LAPIN SAUTE AUX PRUNEAUX (SAUTEED RABBIT WITH PRUNES)

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the rabbit pieces, carrots, onions, celery, vinegar, wine, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand overnight or up to 24 hours, turning the pieces occasionally.
• Drain and reserve the strained liquid. Reserve the rabbit pieces and vegetables, but discard the parsley, thyme and bay leaf.
• Heat the oil and butter in a heavy casserole and add the rabbit pieces. Cook until nicely browned on one side, about four or five minutes. Turn the pieces and cook until browned on the second side.
• Scatter the reserved vegetables in the casserole and stir. Cook briefly and pour off all fat.
• Sprinkle the rabbit pieces with flour and stir. Add the reserved marinating liquid and stir. Add the broth. Bring to the boil and cover. Cook about 20 minutes and add the prunes. Cover and cook 20 minutes. Serve.