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Sweet and Sour Rabbit Stew

17/11/2023

Sweet and sour rabbit stew is a dish that expertly unites sweet and sour flavors for an intriguing and rich taste. Here’s how to prepare it, with a small Italian twist.

Ingredients

  • 1 rabbit, cut into pieces
  • Flour, as needed for dusting the rabbit
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for sautéing
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 100 ml white wine vinegar
  • 100 ml white wine
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
  • 2 tablespoons raisins
  • Chicken or vegetable broth, as needed

Preparation

  1. Start by lightly flouring the rabbit pieces. Shake them to remove the excess flour.
  2. Heat some oil in a large pot and brown the rabbit pieces until they are golden on all sides. Remove the rabbit pieces and set them aside.
  3. In the same pot, add a little bit more oil if necessary and sauté the chopped onion and garlic until translucent.
  4. Add the fried rabbit, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Cook for a minute.
  5. Pour in the vinegar and let the alcohol evaporate for a few minutes.
  6. Add the brown sugar and mix well.
  7. Pour in the white wine and let it reduce slightly.
  8. Cover the rabbit with the chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
  9. Lower the heat and let it simmer slowly for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the rabbit is tender and the sauce has reduced and thickened.
  10. During the last 20 minutes of cooking, add the pine nuts and raisins. If the raisins are too dry, you can soak them in warm water for a few minutes before adding them to the stew.
  11. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper if necessary.
  12. Serve hot, garnished with a fresh rosemary sprig if desired.

Interesting Facts

This dish of Italian origin (sweet and sour rabbit is also found in the culinary tradition of Italian regions) combines raisins and pine nuts for a sweet contrast and texture that makes each bite particularly delicious. Sweet and sour is a technique found in various regional cuisines and is perfectly suited to rabbit meat, which is delicate yet full of flavor.

Sweet and Sour Rabbit Stew