Rabbit Au Vin 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)

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove any visible silver skin or excess fat from the surface of the rabbit legs.
• Cut the bacon into ½" slices and add to a dry skillet.
• Cook the bacon over medium-low heat to render its fat out.
• Once the bacon is crispy, but not crunchy, remove it from the pan and reserve, leaving the fat in the pan. Turn the heat up to medium and add the rabbit legs.
• Brown (sear) the rabbit legs on each side.
• Remove the rabbit. Add the carrot, onion, and celery to the skillet. Brown the vegetables, stirring occasionally.
• Cut the potatoes into ½" cubes.
• Deglaze the pan with the white wine and add the marjoram and potatoes.
• Bring the stew base to a simmer and carefully nestle the rabbit legs in so they are partially covered by the liquid. Add any juices that have gathered on the resting plate and the reserved bacon.
• Put the lid on the skillet and transfer it to the oven for 45 minutes to an hour (until the rabbit is cooked through).
• Remove the skillet from the stove, and check the stew for consistency. If it looks a little dry, you can add chicken stock and simmer it briefly on the stove.
• Taste the stew for seasoning, and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

COQ AU VIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Meanwhile, lay the chicken out on paper towels and pat dry. Liberally sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. When the bacon is removed, brown the chicken pieces in batches in a single layer for about 5 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Remove the chicken to the plate with the bacon and continue to brown until all the chicken is done. Set aside.
• Add the carrots, onions, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to the pan and cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac and put the bacon, chicken, and any juices that collected on the plate into the pot. Add the wine, chicken stock, and thyme and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is just not pink. Remove from the oven and place on top of the stove.
• Mash 1 tablespoon of butter and the flour together and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. In a medium saute pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and cook the mushrooms over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until browned. Add to the stew. Bring the stew to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes. Season to taste. Serve hot.