Lapin Au Vin Rabbit Stew Recipes

RABBIT AU VIN

Steps:

• Soak the shallots in boiling water for 5 mins, drain, then peel - this makes it a lot easier to remove the skins. While they are soaking, slice the rest of the vegetables. Heat a large, wide flameproof casserole dish, then add the lardons. Fry for 5 mins or until the fat has run from the meat, then tip in the vegetables and cook for 10 mins until golden and starting to soften. Tip into a bowl.
• Toss the rabbit meat with the flour, then tap off the excess. Heat half the butter and oil in the dish, then brown half the rabbit for 10 mins until golden all over. Add a good splash of water, scrape around the dish and tip the juices into a jug. Repeat with the second batch of rabbit, but use the wine to deglaze the pan this time, letting it reduce by about a third.
• Add the rabbit and the vegetables to the wine, pour in the stock, stir in the herbs and bring to a simmer. Cover, leaving just a small gap for steam to escape, then simmer for 1½-2 hrs or until the meat falls away from the bones. If you like a thicker sauce to your stew, you can lift out the meat and vegetables and boil the sauce to thicken it a little. To finish, heat the knob of butter in a frying pan and cook the mushrooms with salt, pepper and a few thyme leaves over a high heat until browned. Spoon these over the stew, sprinkle with thyme leaves and bring to the table.

LAPIN AU VIN – RABBIT STEW IN WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Season the rabbit pieces with salt and pepper, set aside. In a big, heavy-bottomed (preferably cast iron) pot fry bacon golden brown, until it has released its fat. With slotted spoon take out bacon and reserve. Fry meat pieces in the fat on all sides until golden brown. The pieces should fry not cook, so put only as many pieces in the pot as can well fry. When the meat pieces have a nice coulour, take them out onto a plate, cover with tinfoil and keep warm. Pour off most of the fat from the pot. Put the shallots in the pot, stir and scrap up any residues from the bottom (You might want to add 2 fl oz wine at this point). Add garlic, bouquet garni, stir well, then add bacon, rabbit and celery. Stir well. Add stock and as much wine as just covers meat. Braise on medium heat for app. 60-80 minutes, or until meat is tender. After 30 minutes check meat every 10 minutes. The meat should be tender but not overcooked. If necessary, add more wine during cooking. While the rabbit is cooking, wash the mushrooms under cold running water. In a 12-inch saute pan melt butter. Add mushrooms and saute them until golden brown. When the meat is almost done, add mushrooms and parsley. Take out the bouquet garni and discard. If the cooking liquid is to thin when meat is ready, take the meat peices out using a slotted spoon, cover and keep warm. On high heat reduce liquid until it reaches a sauce-like texture. Serve sauce with the meat. You can serve it with boiled new potatoes, or fresh bread, and the wine you used for cooking.

LE LAPIN A LA MOUTARDE D'IRENE (RABBIT STEW WITH MUSTARD)

Steps:

• Cut the rabbit into 12 serving pieces. Place the pieces in a mixing bowl. Add the mustard and coat all the pieces well. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for two to three hours, or more.
• When ready to cook, heat the oil in a nonstick skillet. Add the rabbit pieces and the onions. Brown for about 10 minutes, stirring and turning the pieces.
• Place the bacon slices in the bottom of a heavy skillet and cook over medium heat. Add the rabbit, onions, thyme, bay leaf and wine. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer about 40 minutes, or until done. Remove cover and continue cooking for five minutes. Add the cream and cook for one minute. Add salt and pepper if necessary. Remove bay leaf and serve.

LAPIN A LA COCOTTE - FRENCH RABBIT STEW

Steps:

• In a large skillet or medium-sized Dutch oven, cook bacon until done; remove bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve for another use (for a salad, etc).
• In the bacon drippings, cook the onion and garlic until transparent. A.
• dd the rabbit pieces and saute over medium heat until rabbit is golden.
• Sprinkle on the flour and continue to brown rabbit for another 5 minutes or so, then add the beef broth, red wine, thyme, parsley and bay leaves.
• Cover and simmer over low heat for about an hour, adding more broth if necessary. Salt and pepper to taste (with the bacon drippings, not much salt is needed). Serve with mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles.

LAPIN A LA BOURGUIGNONNE (RABBIT WITH RED-WINE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Sprinkle the rabbit pieces with salt and pepper.
• Put the salt-pork cubes in a saucepan and add water to cover. Bring to the boil and simmer about one minute. Drain thoroughly.
• Heat the butter in a large, heavy casserole and add the salt-pork pieces. Cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about three minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring, about two minutes.
• Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, about two minutes. Transfer the onions, mushrooms and salt-pork pieces to a bowl and set aside.
• To the fat remaining in the casserole, add the rabbit pieces in one layer and cook, turning the pieces as necessary, until lightly browned all over, about five minutes. Scatter the mushrooms, onions and salt pork over the rabbit pieces and stir to blend.
• Cook about five minutes and sprinkle with flour, salt and pepper. Add the wine and cloves.
• Tie the parsley, thyme and bay leaf into a bundle and add it. Bring to the boil, cover closely and cook over very low heat about one hour. Remove and discard the herb bunch. Uncover and cook about three minutes to reduce the sauce.