Rabbit Legs With Peas Collards And Country Ham Recipes

BRAISED RABBIT LEGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Pat the rabbit legs dry, and season with salt and pepper. Place a large Dutch oven over high heat, and heat oil until shimmering. Sear the rabbit legs until browned on both sides. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the shallots to the pan, and sauté until tender but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cornichons, brine and vinegar, raise heat and bring to a simmer. Return the rabbit legs to the pan with any accumulated juices. Add enough chicken stock to come to within about 1/2 inch of covering the legs. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
• Cover the pan and bake until the rabbit meat is tender and the leg joint bends easily, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer legs to a plate and keep warm. Skim cornichons and shallots from the sauce and set aside. Return pan to medium-high heat, and boil until sauce is reduced by about half. Whisk in butter a piece at a time, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Return rabbit, cornichons and shallots to the pan until just reheated. Stir in parsley. To serve, place 2 legs on each plate, and top with some shallots, cornichons and sauce.

RABBIT LEGS WITH PEAS, COLLARDS AND COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• Place peas in a nonreactive bowl and allow to soak overnight in refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
• Season rabbit legs with salt. Place large braising pan or casserole over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the rabbit and brown it on all sides, approximately 10 minutes.
• Transfer rabbit to a warm platter. Deglaze pan with wine, reduce to syrup, then add carrots, white onions, celery and bay leaf to pan. Sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Return rabbit to the pan on top of the vegetables, and add water almost to cover legs. Cover pan and braise in oven for 1½ to 2 hours. Meanwhile, prepare peas and collards.
• Fill a heavy-bottomed 3-quart stock pot with water and simmer over medium-high heat. Drain peas and add to pot. Return liquid to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, partly cover pot and simmer gently until peas are tender, stirring occasionally, about one hour. Place aside.
• In a wide sauté pan set over medium heat, sweat garlic and collards with a splash of water until greens are soft. Remove from pan and reserve.
• Remove braising pan from oven. Legs should be soft, almost falling off the bone. Transfer to a warm platter and keep covered. Strain braising liquid and reserve in a smaller pot.
• Put another pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining oil. When it shimmers, add sliced Spanish onions and cook until soft. Add 1 cup or more of braising liquid, then rabbit legs, and heat through.
• Wipe the collards pan clean and set over medium-high heat. Add peas, collards and diced ham. Add a splash of braising liquid and cook until it evaporates. Transfer collards and peas to a warmed serving pan.
• Remove legs from pan and place on top of collards. Add mustard and lemon juice to remaining sauce. Taste and add more salt if necessary. Whisk butter into pan. Pour pan sauce over rabbit legs and garnish with chopped parsley.