Spanish Style Rabbit Recipes

SPANISH RABBIT STEW HUNTER-STYLE RECIPE - (3.7/5)

Steps:

• Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Cut the ham into small pieces and set aside. Rinse and cut tomato into small cubes. Rinse all dirt off mushrooms, then trim stems and slice. Chop 2 sprigs of parsley and set apart. Remove rabbit from packaging. Rinse and pat dry. Cut rabbit into 8-10 pieces. Salt and pepper all sides. In a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan, heat 3-4 tbsp olive oil on medium. When hot, sauté onion and garlic. When soft, add the ham cubes. When onion is translucent, remove onion, garlic and ham from pan with a slotted spatula and set aside on plate for later, reserving the oil. Add some olive oil to the same pan and brown the rabbit on both sides. Remove from frying pan. Pour any oil left in frying pan into a large casserole or stew pot. Place rabbit and onion mixture into pot and mix. Add chopped parsley and dried thyme to pot and stir. Place on medium heat. Add the cognac, white wine and water to rabbit and mix. Simmer uncovered for approximately 30 minutes and add chopped mushrooms after 15 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes. If necessary, add a bit more water while simmering. Serve with home-fried potatoes or rice. Spanish stews or casseroles such as this are traditionally served with rustic bread, especially in Old Castilla where this regional recipe originates.

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.

SPANISH STYLE RABBIT

Steps:

• cut the rabbit and soak in salted water for 1/2 an hour, then rinse with fresh water.
• blanche the almonds and fry together with the bread and parsley. Pound together.
• when browned, remove from heat.
• Fry the onions chopped and the rabbit. when nicely browned add wine, some water and the pounded bread and almonds.
• bring to the boil, then reduce heat and gently simmer for about 2 hours, until tender, stirring frequently.

SPANISH RABBIT STEW

Steps:

• Heat a large saute pan or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook the bacon until it is brown and crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove bacon to drain on paper towels.
• Season the rabbit with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining bacon fat and sear the rabbit pieces until golden on all sides, turning often, about 56 minutes. Lift out the rabbit pieces and reserve. Add the onion to the pan and saute until the onions are soft and caramelized, about 57 minutes. Add the garlic, almonds, cinnamon, red pepper flakes and salt, and cook until the aromas are released, about 1 minute. Add the wine and reduce by half.
• Add the stock, browned rabbit pieces, browned bacon and bay leaves. Cook, covered, until rabbit is fork tender, about 1 hour.
• Carefully lift out the rabbit pieces and transfer to a serving platter. Add the sherry to the sauce along with enough butter to thicken the sauce, whisking until the butter is incorporated. Pour the sauce over the warm rabbit pieces and garnish with toasted sliced almonds.

BRAISED RABBIT, PORTUGUESE STYLE ("COELHO ESTUFADO")

Steps:

• Cut up the rabbit into pieces (hind legs, front legs, etc.) as you would cut up a whole chicken, into approximately 9 pieces. Place into a large bowl.
• Add the garlic, parsley, bay leaf, piri-piri, salt, pepper and beer (or enough wine to cover the rabbit) to the rabbit. Mix around to combine everything.
• Cover and refrigerate to marinate for 1 day or at least overnight. The longer it marinates, the better it is! (I hate the gamey taste of wild rabbit - I use storebought rabbit).
• Cut up the onion and place into a pot with the olive oil. Saute the onion slightly.
• Add the rabbit a few pieces at a time to brown (careful not to crowd the pot - you want to brown them, not cook them at this point).
• Once all pieces are browned, add the rabbit marinade into the pot as well and enough water to cover the rabbit.
• Bring to a boil, reduce to medium-high heat, cover (leave lid slightly off) and let the rabbit cook for approximately 2 hours, or until tender. Check for salt, pepper, garlic (I add lots because we love it!), little more paprika for colour - all to your taste. Don't let the liquid boil right off - it should end up cooking down to a "gravy". You may need to periodically add some water, but careful you don't add too much too late in the cooking - you don't want it to be swimming in liquid towards the end.
• Once rabbit is cooked, add the rice right to the pot (with the rabbit still in or remove and keep warm), add some additional water/salt/pepper if needed, and cook the rice right in the broth.
• Serve the rabbit over the rice. Enjoy!