Orecchiette With Rabbit Ragù Food

ORECCHIETTE WITH LAMB AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season well with salt. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than listed on the box, about 8 minutes. Drain well, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the garlic and sweat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it apart with the back of a spoon, until cooked through and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the peas, asparagus and tomatoes and toss well to coat. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 1/2 cup pasta water and simmer for 3 minutes. Add the pasta to the sauce and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups Parmesan on the bare pasta. Toss it with the sauce, adding the remaining 1/2 cup pasta water as needed to create a light tomato sauce. Stir in the thyme. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

RABBIT RAGU WITH PAPPARDELLE

Steps:

• Pat the rabbit pieces dry and season with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the oil and brown the pieces, working in batches if needed to avoid crowding. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the anchovy (if you choose) and mash it until it dissolves into the oil. Add the onion, carrots and celery, stirring until soft, about 5 minutes. Then add the red-pepper flakes, garlic and tomato paste, stirring for another minute. Deglaze the pan with the wine, turn the heat to high and boil to burn off the alcohol, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, broth, bay leaves and thyme. Return the rabbit pieces to the pot, spacing them evenly so they are partly covered by the liquid. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the rabbit is falling off the bone, about 2 hours. Turn the pieces at least once.
• Turn off the heat and discard the thyme and bay leaves. Remove the rabbit from the sauce and let cool; then pull the meat from the bones. Shred some pieces and leave others large. Return the meat to the pan and simmer the sauce until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the butter, piece by piece. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pappardelle until al dente. Before draining, save a cup of the pasta water. Toss the pappardelle with the sauce over low heat, adding pasta water as necessary if the sauce is too thick. Divide among pasta bowls and top with the grated cheese.

ORECCHIETTE WITH RABBIT RAGù

Steps:

• Pat rabbit dry and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown rabbit in 2 batches, turning over once, about 7 minutes per batch. Transfer to a platter, reserving fat in skillet.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil to fat in skillet and heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, carrot, celery, garlic, bay leaves, rosemary, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add wine and boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of liquid is evaporated, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, broth, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Return rabbit along with any juices accumulated on platter to skillet and nestle rabbit into sauce. Cover skillet and simmer, stirring and turning rabbit over occasionally, until both saddle pieces are tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer saddle pieces to a plate, then continue to simmer leg pieces 10 minutes more.
• Remove from heat and transfer remaining rabbit pieces to plate. When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones, discarding bones and gristle, and shred. Return meat along with any juices to sauce in skillet, then add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring sauce to a boil. Discard bay leaves.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until al dente. Drain in a colander.
• Transfer pasta to a large serving dish and top with sauce, stirring to combine.

RAGU OF SLOW BRAISED RABBIT W. CHICKPEAS, ROSEMARY & GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 C (Celsius) Toss rabbit in flour to coat, shaking off excess. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large deep ovenproof frypan or casserole with a tight fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add half the rabbit and cook 2 minutes each side until golden. Remove then add another 1/4 cup oil and brown remaining rabbit.
• Wipe pan clean, then return to stove over medium heat with remaining 2 tbs oil. Add garlic and rosemary and stir for 1-2 minutes until garlic is just starting to colour. Return rabbit to pan with wine and stock, then bring to a simmer. Cover surface with baking paper, then cover with lid and transfer to oven for 30 minutes. Add chickpeas, re-cover and cook for a further 30 minutes or until meat is tender and falling off the bone.
• Remove the rabbit from the sauce, When cool enough to handle, shred the meat and set aside, discarding bones. Return ragu pan to the stove over medium high heat and reduce for 12-15 minutes until thickened. Add rabbit, warm through for 3-4 minutes, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• While sauce is reducing, cook pasta in a large pan of boiling water salted water according to instructions. Drain. Stir butter into ragu, then add drained pasta and toss well. Top with parmesan.

RABBIT RAGU

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet - 2" deep - over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add pancetta (or bacon) and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minute
• Add sage and rosemary and cook stirring, 30 sec.
• Add rabbit and cook, stirring occasionally, until rabbit is no longer pink on the outside, 2-3 minute
• Add onion, carrot and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minute
• Add wine and simmer, uncovered until liquid is reduced to about 1 cup - 10-15 minute
• Add tomatoes, salt, and pepper and simmer until sauce is thickened, 5-10 minute.
• Serve over Buttered Polenta, grits, rice or mashed potatoes.

TUSCAN RABBIT RAGù

Steps:

• Place a large, heavy-bottomed, nonreactive pot over medium-low heat. Add olive oil and when it shimmers, add onion, carrot, celery and pancetta. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and caramelized (about 25 minutes).
• Raise heat to medium-high. Add rabbit. Brown lightly on all sides. Add wine and stir, scraping bottom of pan. Add cheese rind if using, tomato paste, bay leaves and stock or water. Stir well, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, stir, and reduce heat to low.
• Simmer, lid slightly ajar, until meat is tender and nearly falling off the bone, about 2 hours.
• Remove rabbit from sauce. When cool enough to handle, shred rabbit. Return meat to pot. Add thyme and rosemary, and season with salt and pepper. Reheat gently before serving. Ragù may be spooned over warm polenta or tossed with pasta, butter, more fresh herbs and grated Parmesan or pecorino Toscano.