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When I'm looking for a wild game recipe, there's just one place I need to go. It's Hank Shaw's blog, Hunter Angler Gardener Cook. If you don't eat wild game, don't leave yet... Hank offers up a boatload of good stuff. He can tell you how to cure olives; how to gather wild mushrooms; how to preserve lemons; and how to make sausage and salami, and wine. If you have an octopus lying around that you're not sure how to cook, Hank's your man.
Last month, in single-digit temperatures, my gardener picked up his .22 and went rabbit hunting. Being the good gardener (and hunter) that he is, he came home with 3 Cottontails and one Snowshoe.
Even though I have never eaten rabbit, I had no qualms about doing so. What did intimidate me was cooking a rabbit! So, over to Hank's blog. He'd just posted a recipe for Sardinian Hare Stew. A hare is a jackrabbit - one tough old bird, er... rabbit.
Yesterday, I printed up Hank's recipe and cooked up a Cottontail. The recipe calls for onion, garlic, parsley, capers, saffron, red wine vinegar, and of course rabbit! The finished dish was sweet, fall-off-the-bone-tender meat with a hint of tang thanks to the capers & vinegar. I served this stew over a big spoonful of polenta and it was one of the best meals I've ever eaten!
I do love the colour of this dish and I would even add some mustard in the mix.
ReplyDeletemy uncle grows rabbits, so i had various dishes growing up. my favourite entailed an overnight marinade of white wine, peppercorns and bay leaf. it was then roasted with lots of garlic and shallots. extraordinary. i've never cooked it myself, because i am intimidated. i've seen whole frozen hares at the market, but never really considered getting one. i definetely don't think i'd be brave enough to skin one! perhaps i'll work up the courage to buy on next time i go shopping, your stew does look wonderful...
ReplyDeleteI've never had rabbit, my girlfriend can't handle the thought of eating it. Looks great though!
ReplyDeleteThe rabbit stew sounds terrific! I will check out the recipe on Hank's blog!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had rabbit in many years...I remember my mother cooking it and telling my brother and I that it tasted like chicken.LOL
ReplyDeleteYour stew looks yummy, Karen...good thing your gardener can hunt too!
My husband loves rabbit so much he gives it to me as a gift - I kid you not. I really prefer your recipe to mine, Karen. I'll have to give it a try the next time I receive a gift. Have a great day... Mary
ReplyDeleteI love the internet... something for everyone
ReplyDeleteGood morning! Came here looking for a soup recipe for a church Soup Supper tonite, but just haven't ever been able to do the "Bugs" thing.LOL. It sounds like you have enough rabbit for several recipes. I'll go now and look through your recipes for something a little more conventional. LOL
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the recipe! Looking at the photo, I'd say you used more saffron than I did - it is *very* yellow. Using a white meat rabbit instead of a red-meat hare also highlights the color...
ReplyDeleteDid you use the snowshoe in there, too?
I've never had rabbit. Came close to buying one a couple of times, when I saw it in the market, but never have.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that I'm squeamish about eating odd things - I've had hippo, I've had lion, I've had rattlesnake - but never have eaten a rodent, to the best of my knowledge, and somehow the thought doesn't appeal. Maybe someday.
This is so amazing! I've had rabbit twice before and so many years between and since each one - I'd love to have it again. I'm going to keep this recipe close by!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd eat this, but I don't think I could skin a rabbit! I'm not sure my husband could do it either!
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