Rabbit With Prunes Food

RABBIT WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• In a small glass or ceramic bowl, macerate the prunes in the cognac for at least 1 hour.
• In another bowl, combine the rabbit, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves and enough white wine to cover, and chill mixture, covered, overnight.
• Transfer rabbit with a slotted spoon to a plate, reserving marinade.
• Pat it dry and season.
• Brown rabbit in butter over moderately-high heat and transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate.
• Add onion and cook until softened.
• Add rabbit and any juices that have accumulated and 2 tblsps flour, and cook mixture, turning rabbit to coat with flour, for 3 minutes.
• Add marinade, 1/3 of prunes, including 1 tblsp of cognac, broth, garlic, shallot, tomato paste and season.
• Bring to the boil and simmer, covered, for 20-25 minutes, or until rabbit is tender.
• Add reserved liver, chopped, and simmer 5 minutes.
• Transfer rabbit and prunes with slotted spoon to a plate.
• Skim cooking liquid, strain it into another pot and add crème fraiche, rabbit, prunes, and remaining prunes and season to taste.
• Simmer until rabbit is heated through.

RABBIT AND PRUNE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Put the prunes in a small saucepan and pour in the brandy. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, turning the prunes regularly, then set aside.
• Melt half the butter with the oil in a large frying pan. Season the rabbit all over and fry in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Transfer the rabbit to a large flameproof casserole dish.
• Fry the bacon in the same pan for 4-5 minutes, or until the fat is crisp, adding a little extra oil if necessary. Scatter it over the rabbit. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
• Melt the remaining butter in the frying pan and gently fry the shallots for 5-6 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.
• Stir the flour into the pan and cook for a few seconds before slowly adding the wine and half the stock, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens. Add the mustards, bay leaf and thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer and season with a little salt and lots of pepper. Carefully pour the stock mixture into the casserole dish, along with the remaining stock, and bring everything to a simmer.
• Remove the casserole dish from the heat, cover with greaseproof paper and put the lid on. Bake for 1½-2 hours, or until the meat is very tender, contains no trace of pink and is starting to fall off the bone. Test the rabbit with a knife; if it doesn't slide in easily, return the casserole to the oven.
• Place the casserole back on the hob, remove the lid and stir in the cream, prunes and brandy. Simmer gently for a few minutes, until the prunes are hot, stirring carefully so the rabbit doesn't completely fall apart. Adjust the seasoning if needed, scatter with the parsley and serve with bread or Gruyère croutons.

BELGIAN RABBIT WITH PRUNES IN WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• MARINADE: Combine all ingredients for marinade in large plastic bag. Place bag in shallow glass, stainless steel or plastic bowl.
• Remove head from rabbit and cut the rest into 6 pieces. Place in bag with marinade; close top firmly with a twist tie and lay flat in dish. Marinate rabbit pieces, turning bag periodically, for 2 to 4 hours.
• Soak prunes in water while rabbit marinates.
• Remove rabbit from marinade and wipe dry; reserve marinade. Toss meat in flour and reserve on paper towels. Strain marinade, pressing out and reserving all liquid.
• In large heavy saucepan, melt butter, add oil and, over medium high heat, brown rabbit. With slotted spoon, remove rabbit and set aside. Saute onions for 5 minutes; return rabbit to pan and add salt, pepper, wine, strained marinade, prunes and their soaking water. Mix gently but thoroughly to blend all ingredients. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 30 to 40 minutes or until rabbit is tender and sauce thickened.
• Taste, adjusting seasoning if desired. Transfer to heated serving bowl and garnish with orange peel. Makes 6 servings.
• Canadian Living.

RABBIT AND PRUNE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Marinate rabbit overnight in a mixture of, wine, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary and prunes.
• Wipe the rabbit joints dry and lightly brown in butter.
• Transfer to a casserole dish and blend the flour into the remaining butter in the pan.
• Strain the wine mixture (put the prunes in the casserole and discard the herbs) add slowly to flour and butter, stirring over a low heat until the sauce thickens.
• Season to taste. Pour sauce over the rabbit and prunes, cover casserole and bake for 2 hours at 180 C.
• Cheers, Doreen Randal, Wanganui.
• New Zealand

RABBIT WITH CIDER IN PRUNES

Steps:

• Dust rabbit joints in flour.
• Wrap each piece in strip of bacon, securing with toothpick.
• Heat oil in large saucepan.
• Gently sauté onion & garlic.
• Transfer to flameproof casserole dish.
• Brown rabbit in frypan.
• Add these to casserole.
• Pour cider (or wine) & stock over rabbit.
• Add herbs & seasoning.
• Gently heat until barely simmering.
• Cover & continue to simmer very gently for 1 - 1 1/2 hours until rabbit is tender.
• Add prunes 15 minutes before time is up.
• To serve place rabbit pieces on shallow platter.
• Quickly boil the sauce to reduce & thicken.
• Stir in 1 - 2 Tblsp of cream OR butter if using.
• Pour sauce all over the rabbit and strew with croutons & chopped parsley.
• Serve.