Sicilian Braised Rabbit Rosemary Potatoes Fiery Pilacca Sauce Recipes

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.

BRAISED RABBIT PAPPARDELLE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. When hot, add the rabbit, brown on all sides, then remove from the pan and set aside.
• Add the bacon, onion and carrot to the pan and cook for 10 mins until soft. Add the garlic, rosemary and tomato purée, stir for 1-2 mins, then pour in the wine and chicken stock.
• Return the rabbit to the pan, season, cover with a lid and cook over a low heat for 1 hr until the rabbit is really tender.
• Remove the rabbit from the pan and shred the meat using 2 forks. Be careful to remove all small bones. Meanwhile, increase the heat under the pan and boil the liquid for 5 mins until reduced by half. Add the shredded meat and reduce the heat to low. Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted water following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a little pasta water to thin the sauce if necessary.
• Stir half the orange zest, mustard, cream and parsley into the rabbit sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the pan, toss everything well to coat and heat through for 1-2 mins. Serve in bowls with grated Parmesan, parsley leaves and the remaining orange zest.

SIMPLE BRAISED POTATOES

Steps:

• Scrub the potatoes, then cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks.
• Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a deep skillet or broad pot over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, onions, garlic, a sprig of thyme or rosemary, and salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until potatoes begin to turn golden, 10 minutes.
• Add good stock to barely cover the potatoes (about 2 cups). Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and liquid is reduced, about 30 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve garnished with thyme or rosemary.

ROASTED RABBIT WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• 1 Rinse the rabbit pieces and pat dry with paper towels. In a large skillet, heat two tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the rabbit, onion and parsley. Cook, turning the pieces occasionally, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Add the wine and cook 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 2 Place a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Oil a roasting pan large enough to hold all of the ingredients in a single layer. 3 Scatter the potatoes in the pan and toss them with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the contents of the skillet to the pan, tucking the rabbit pieces around the potatoes. Add the water. Sprinkle with the oregano and salt and pepper. Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Roast 30 minutes. Uncover and cook 20 minutes more or until the potatoes are tender. 4 Transfer to a serving platter. Serve hot. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

BRAISED RABBIT WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• In large casserole over medium-high heat, heat olive oil and add onion, bacon, bay leaves, sage, rosemary and cloves. Saute, stirring constantly, until onion is wilted, about 4 minutes.
• Season rabbit pieces with salt and pepper to taste. Add rabbit to casserole, and saute until lightly browned, about 3 minutes a side. Add tomato paste and wine. Stir, scraping bottom of pan. Add stock. Simmer partly covered until rabbit is cooked, about 40 minutes.
• Remove rabbit pieces to a platter, and keep them warm. Strain sauce, and return it to a clean pan. Bring it to a boil, and reduce for 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Pour sauce over rabbit, and serve with polenta.