Finally forcing myself to make time and get out to do some snowshoe hare hunting. I built the gun fore it over the last few years, and now I'm actually putting some rabbit (yes, I know they're hares) in the freezer. I'm not lost on how to cook them, but I just wanted to pick your brains and see what cool concoctions you guys have come up with for a good taste winter dinner.
My grandma used to make a killer rabbit or squirrel stew. Just like beef stew but different meat. She might have added some dumplings... Sorry I’m no more help, Jeff.
I tried smoking a couple of rabbits for a dinner party years ago... IIRC they ended up being some expensive and laborious doggy treats in the end. That said, I'm sure there are 2 things in your favor: (1)- you're harvesting your own wabbits (2) if you search long enuf, at least a few good recipes will hop right up. Maybe a FB rabbit hunting group in your area? I dunno.
Whatever happens, post up as the experiment progresses. And... PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
I like it simple Prep rabbit - do not debone. Sprinkle salt and pepper on then sear in hot oil in Dutch oven. Add chopped garlic during last bit of sear. Add 4 cups beef broth, 2c water, taters, onions, carrots, and worchestershire (1/4c) and thyme. Cover, Cook in oven at 300 for four stirring occasionally. Pellets will usually fall right out and be in the bottom of the pan, meat will be or has fallen off the bone and the bones brings some richness to the broth. Serve with homemade bread and beer. Enjoy!
Seared up a couple of loins with nothing but salt, pepper, and garlic for lunch. No, they are not as big as a frying pan, that's a 6" pan for small Dutch Babies.
They were tender and delicious!!! They were way more like venison than I would have expected, so I'm definitely going to keep the back straps separate from the legs for different dishes.
Zac, Pellet guns are pretty quite and accurate, but there's still the problem of the flailing after the shot, even with a head shot. They could spasm their way right onto you neighbors patio, and with the contrast of crimson red blood on a pure white fluffy bunny (unless they're cottontails), that might create a little tension!
Another great recipe! Time to go get some more meat, and I'm taking Julie with me this time, so we'll see how she handles it. She's been a trooper during elk hunting, and packed out her share of meat including a bull head with antlers intact.
I just remembered that one of the times we went to Australia on our big grey yacht, we had “fried chicken”. I realized the bones weren’t chicken but rabbit. Everybody was enjoying the meal until I told them...