Rabbit With Morels Spring Peas And Sage Grits Recipes

RABBIT WITH MORELS, SPRING PEAS AND SAGE GRITS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour with salt and pepper to taste. Dredge rabbit pieces in flour, and set aside.
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add oil. When oil is hot, add rabbit pieces, taking care not to crowd pan. Sauté until rabbit is well browned and meat is opaque, transferring pieces to a platter as they are cooked. Set aside, and keep warm.
• Return pan to medium-high heat, and add onions and turnips. Sauté until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add carrots and morels, and sauté until vegetables are just tender. Add peas, and cook until tender. Transfer to rabbit platter, and keep warm.
• Place a saucepan over high heat, add milk, and bring to a simmer. Add grits, reduce heat to medium. Stir every 5 minutes until grits are creamy but slightly stiff, holding their shape when spooned, 25 to 30 minutes. Add milk if they become too stiff. Stir in mascarpone, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve, place equal portions of rabbit and vegetables on each of two large plates. Add a portion of grits to each plate, and garnish with chopped sage.

ROASTED YOUNG RABBIT WITH GNOCCHI AND FRICASSE OF SPRING VEGETABLES, SPINACH PUREE, AND MOREL FOAM

Steps:

• Salt and pepper the rabbit loin. In a large saute pan, heat oil and butter over high heat. Sear the loin on all sides and then cook to medium doneness for about 2 more minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
• Over medium heat using a large saute pan, add olive oil and butter. Caramelize the gnocchi on both sides for about 1 minute. Add sauteed morel mushrooms, onions, fava beans,
• fresh peas, fiddlehead ferns, and wild leeks. Add garlic and shallots and continue to cook for another minute. Add chicken stock a little at a time and reduce 1 more minute. Add parsley, heavy cream, Parmesan, truffle oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Heat up the Morel Foam and Spinach Puree.
• Over medium heat in a medium saucepan saute garlic, shallots, morels, leeks and onions in butter until very soft about 3 minutes. Add chicken stock. Bring to a boil under high heat. When it comes to a boil add heavy cream. Remove from heat and puree in a blender. Salt and pepper, to taste. Keep warm.
• Over medium heat in a medium saucepan add butter and saute onions and leeks for about 2 minutes. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil and then place into a blender with spinach. Puree until smooth and transfer to a bowl. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne. Place the bowl on an ice bath to stop cooking process. This keeps the color bright green. Keep in the refrigerator until needed.

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.

RABBIT STIFADO

Steps:

• Season rabbit with salt and pepper to taste. Coat the bottom of a large oven-proof saute pan or casserole dish with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place over medium-high heat, and brown rabbit on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Brown in batches if necessary; do not crowd pan. Remove rabbit to a platter.
• Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan. Add red onions and pinch of salt. Saute over medium heat until onions are slightly wilted and begin to brown, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, and stir. Add Cabernet Sauvignon and Mavrodaphne, and stir, scraping bottom of pan. Raise heat to medium-high, and boil until liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add rabbit to pan with any juices from platter. Add chicken broth, allspice, sachet and black pepper to taste. Bring to boil, then remove from heat. Cover pan, and place in oven. Let rabbit simmer for 40 to 60 minutes; while it is cooking, prepare the pearl onions.
• In a skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat, melt 1 teaspoon butter, and add the pearl onions. Sprinkle with sugar, and saute, shaking pan or stirring, until onions are golden brown on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.
• When rabbit is done (the meat will give easily when pierced with a fork), remove it to a serving platter and keep it warm. Place pan on stove over medium heat, and add the onions. Bring the pan liquid to a boil and whisk in remaining teaspoon of butter. Check for seasoning, and add salt, pepper or mavrodaphne, if desired. Ladle sauce over rabbit. Garnish, if desired, with diced fresh tomatoes and fried onion rings.