Rabbit With Morels Spring Peas And Sage Grits Food

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. To serve: In the center of a large plate add warmed spinach and a mixture of the Spring Vegetables with gnocchi. Add sliced, bite-sized pieces of the rabbit loin on top of the Morel Foam, and place around the bowl. Add sliced black truffles and pea sprouts to garnish. Serve immediately.

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.

POLENTA

Steps:

• Fill a small saucepan with 4 cups of water, and bring to a simmer at back of stove. Keep hot. In a medium saucepan, 3 to 4 quarts, combine 4 cups water, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil. Add olive oil.
• Place cornmeal in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle a handful of cornmeal into the seasoned boiling water, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Continue until all the cornmeal is added to the pot; it will take about 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir until polenta becomes too thick to stir easily, which will be about 4 minutes. Add about 1 cup of the hot water from the small saucepan, and continue stirring. When cornmeal thickens, add more hot water. Repeat until the cornmeal is tender, about 20 minutes. Continue to stir until polenta is thick and shiny, 5 to 10 minutes more. Serve hot, using a large spoon dipped in water before each scoop.

CHIFFERI PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Using a mandoline, cut zucchini into julienne. Using a sharp knife, julienne tomatoes or tomatillos. Set aside.
• In a large casserole over medium-low heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter, and add garlic. Saute until softened and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini and tomatoes or tomatillos, and gently toss until warmed through.
• Add pasta, chicken broth, milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well, cover and bake 4 minutes. Remove from oven and stir well. Cover pan, return to oven and continue to bake until pasta is al dente, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven and discard the garlic cloves. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter, cheese and basil. Pour into a warm bowl, and serve immediately.

CARAMELIZED PEACHES

Steps:

• Drain peaches, pouring syrup into a skillet. Place skillet over high heat. Cook until syrup is caramelized (thick and light golden brown), about 10 minutes, stirring gently toward end of cooking so caramel does not burn around edges.
• Add peaches to caramel. Stir in cream. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl, and allow to cool.
• Stir in Cognac and lemon juice. If mixture is too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons water. Cover, and refrigerate until serving.
• To serve, toast brioche slices, and place one on each of four dessert plates. Arrange 2 peach halves on top of each slice, and top with a spoonful or two of sauce. Sprinkle with pistachios, and serve.

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.