Rabbit In Red Wine With Prunes Recipes

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 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.

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.

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.

BRAISED RABBIT WITH PRUNES (LAPIN AUX PRUNEAUX)

Steps:

• Make sure you read the cooking notes before you start.
• Step 1 - At least 2 hours before you start cooking, pat dry the rabbit (with paper towel) and season the rabbit pieces with salt and pepper on both sides. Be generous and make sure to get inside all the nooks and crannies. Set aside to "warm" to near room temperature. You can do your prep work (shallots, garlic, bacon) in the meantime.
• Step 2 - In a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or casserole, heat up the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Place the rabbit pieces in (work in batches) and cook for 5 minutes on each side, until the outside is golden. Set aside on a plate.
• Step 3 - Add the bacon strips and cook for about 5-6 minutes, until crisp. Remove the bacon from the Dutch oven with a spatula, so the drippings remain at the bottom, and set the bacon aside.
• Step 4 - Add the shallots and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes, until slightly caramelized.
• Step 5 - Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until fully combined. Add the rabbit pieces back in. Pour in the white wine and chicken stock. Add the bacon, 2/3 of the prunes (200g), juniper berries and bay leaves. Cover with a lid, lower the temperature to medium low and cook for 45 minutes.
• Step 6 - After the 45 minutes, ensure the rabbit is cooked through by poking a pointy knife in it. It should insert fairly easily. Add the rest of the prunes (100G) and cook for an extra 10 minutes.
• Optional: When adding the last of the prunes, you can add the rabbit liver. Mash up the rabbit liver in a small bowl with a fork, add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and whisk until creamy. Pour in the mixture into the sauce, mix to combine.
• After the 10 more minutes of cooking, serve over rice.