Hasenpfeffer (Rabbit Stew)

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 120 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

This rabbit stew features rabbit braised in a red wine gravy flavored with bacon, shallots, currant jelly, and herbs in this German hasenpfeffer dish.

Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon, diced
3 pounds rabbit meat, cleaned and cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 cup dry red wine
1 cup water
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
1 tablespoon currant jelly
10 black peppercorns, crushed
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients.
2 Place bacon in a large skillet; cook and stir over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes.
3 Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
4 Sprinkle rabbit with salt and coat with flour, shaking off excess.
5 Cook rabbit in bacon fat in the skillet over medium heat until browned. Transfer rabbit to a plate and set aside. Drain excess grease, leaving 2 tablespoons fat in the skillet.
6 Sauté shallots and garlic in fat in the skillet until tender, about 4 minutes.
7 Add wine, water, and bouillon. Bring to a boil, then stir in jelly, peppercorns, bay leaf, and rosemary.
8 Return rabbit and bacon to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer until rabbit is tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
9 Remove bay leaf and discard. Place rabbit on a warm platter; cover to keep warm while preparing gravy.
10 Make gravy: Stir lemon juice into cooking liquid in the skillet. Mix together water and flour in a small bowl; stir mixture into the skillet over low heat and simmer until thickened. Stir in thyme.
11 Pour gravy over rabbit or serve in a gravy boat on the side.