French Mustard-Braised Rabbit
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
The mustard-spiked cream of this velvety sauce is magically sweet in this rustic farmhouse dish.
Recipe by:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 3 strips smoked bacon, chopped
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • ½ cup diced green bell pepper
  • 2 cups fresh mushrooms, cleaned
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • ½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 cup chopped fresh kale
  • 1 whole rabbit, cut into pieces
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons Louisiana Creole mustard, such as Zatarain's
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard, such as Maille Dijon Originale
  • 2 cups chicken stock, divided
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
  1. In a large cast-iron skillet with heavy lid on medium-high heat, add the bacon. Cook until the bacon is crispy and remove to a paper towel and drain.
  2. In the same pan on medium heat, add the onions, celery, bell pepper, and mushrooms to the remaining bacon grease. Sauté the ingredients just until the onions turn translucent and then add the carrots and garlic along with the parsley, rosemary, and kale. Stir all the vegetables together for 2 minutes and then remove to a platter.
  3. Place the rabbit pieces on a platter and pat dry with paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Dredge the pieces lightly in flour and place on a platter.
  4. In the same pan on medium heat, add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the rabbit pieces. Brown the rabbit on both sides.
  5. Pour off any remaining oil from the pan and add the sautéed vegetables and the bacon pieces back to the pan with the rabbit. On medium heat, add the wine and deglaze the pan. Cook until the wine reduces by half. Add both mustards and stir until combined. Add 1 cup of chicken stock. Lower the heat to a simmer, place the cover on the pan and let cook for 20 minutes.
  6. Uncover, add the cream and stir to combine. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Stir to make sure the sauce is thickening, but not sticking on the bottom of the pan. Add more chicken stock to thin it out, if needed. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes until the rabbit is tender. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed. Cover the pan and keep warm.
  7. For serving, present the pan in the center of the table in traditional farmhouse style. Serve with steamed rice or mashed potatoes along with crusty French bread, and of course, a bottle of French Burgundy wine.
Notes
I use a combination of mushrooms in this dish – Chanterelles and portobellos – but any type will be fine. Domestic rabbit is a delicate white meat with no gamey taste and is especially good for the braising of this dish. Find whole, farm-raised rabbit if you can. Better yet, go to a breeder and buy your rabbit direct insuring the freshness and naturalness of the meat, plus it’s always a bonus to meet the farming family that you are helping.
Recipe by Acadiana Table at https://www.acadianatable.com/2022/09/19/mustard-braised-rabbit/