rabbit stew

[mimififi]

Hi there,
just wondering do people still eat rabbit and is it nice and does it have high nutritional value?

I know that during the war people bred rabbits for food and just wondered if anyone still does.

I still see venison and pheasant and stuff like that in the farm shop so why not rabbit?

cheers
mimi

[Catso]

I remember eating it as a kid (1950s) and it was very nice. Like chicken in texture, but a bit stronger, meatier taste. My mum did a rabbit stew every week during the winter.

I'd love to eat it again now, but a/ as you point out, you don't see it about & b/ the wife says "NO!".

[Amara]

It is on every menu here in Andalucia - the first time my daughter saw it she was traumatised for a week!!

[naz_nomad]

Rabbit's extremely tasty ...try it

[libby1980]

I was recently at a lovely pub called the Crown at Pishill (just north of Henley on Thames) and they had a very nice looking rabbit casserole on the menu. I didn't have it, but was quite tempted!

[Mikeyd2]

Our local butchers still have it and Sainsbury's meat counter have it . Get it on Sunday afternoon and it's even cheaper as it is often reduced to sell it.
As has been said it is quite like dark chicken meat in texture and slightly stronger flavour . Have the windows open a bit as it can have a strong odour sometimes.

[Quizmonster]

Click here for a typical rabbit casserole recipe.
People were put off eating rabbit meat after the myxomatosis problems of about 30 years ago. Forget them! It's delicious! Enjoy!

[Amara]

I'll give it a miss thanks - x

[Clanad]

While I imagine all the rabbits referred to in this thread are of the domestic variety, here in the western U.S., we still eat a lot of Cotton Tail rabbits, which we hunt in the fall and winter months. They are not hares, which we call Jack Rabbits, and are generally inedible. They weigh about 3 to 4 pounds and two makes about the right amount for a family of four, say. We like them better than domestic ones since they have a better taste. The taste is hard to describe without invoking chicken, but that's as close as anything. The meat tends to be lighter in clor than you'd expect for wild game. We usually fry them. The back legs and loins are the meatiest portions, while the front legs and rib areas don't have a lot. Some people fry them and then put the pieces in stews or casseroles.
One area of concern with rabbits of any kind is Tularemia. It's a bacterial infection that can be passed on to humans. Thing is, having hunted rabbits since childhood, any infected rabbit is easily recognized by their lethargy, poor fur condition and, often, being overrun with fleas, which healthy ones don't have. The liver is indicative, since it's very light colored and spotted in infected rabbits, versus the dark red, healthy looking ones found in normal rabbits.
Here's a recipe similar to one we use often:
1 (3 lb) fryer rabbit
1 cup Dijon mustard
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 cup olive oil
Cut the rabbit into 8 serving pieces from the loin, and 2 from the ribs. Season the rabbit with salt and pepper; then using a pastry brush, coat each piece with mustard. Roll the rabbit in the crumbs to coat well. Heat olive oil in pan on medium heat. fry rabbit till golden brown (1o min) per side. drain on paper towels and serve.
Simple but very tasty...

[ugly_bob]

Haven't had any for years, though I know a lot of people that do, esp in the pheasant shooting season. They often get shot when the shoots are on.
Was considered quite a delicacy in Tenerife when I lived there, though I never managed to work out where they lived on what is basically a big rock!

[teag1rl]

If you get as wild one make sure you remove all the shot-I've been scarred for life by discovering that in my stew and wouldn't eat rabbit unless you paid me now!!

[Jules001]

I bought some frozen in Tesco a few years ago as I wanted to try to introduce my kids to as many new foods as possible. I remember starting to cook it and the smell was horrible and I was thinking OMG what I have done, if this is inedible what are we going to eat tonight, however I carried on with it and the stew when finished was really tasy, however the kids weren't enamoured (sp) by me telling them they were eating Bambi (what a wicked mum I am) so we haven't had it since.
I 'm not sure about the nutritional value but believe it is quite low in fat.

[tictactoe]

Rabbit and pork stew - delicious!!

(always known as 'underground chicken' because of the similiarity of flavour and texture)

Most rabbits sold from butchers are tame ones...

Pickled (salt) pork is added as this gives it a lot more flavour...

You should soak the rabbit in salt water (similiar to giblets), so as to whiten the meat, and dispel the blood.

If buying a whole rabbit, make sure you add the heart and kidney to the pot for flavour.

Not many butchers sell it now, but always available at Selfridges and Harrods (if you are ever that way - but be prepared to pay a lot of money).

My mum still cooks rabbit + pork stew, with plenty of onions and carrots + herbs!!

[tictactoe]

When in San Francisco, went to an Italian restaurant (invited by some folks from a Napa Valley vineyard), and I choose Young Fried Rabbit - boy was it delicious!!

[baby coco]

OH...MYYY..GAWDDDD Rabbit is...EDIBLE? I have like 4 rabbits that come into my garden everyday but i have NEVER...NEVER! considered EATING one! Isn't that like cannibalism :|?

[baby coco]

Oh Dear! I think I am going to have a heart attack and believe me that shouldn't happen to a 14 year old..people actually made RECIPES for rabbit? Give me a bucket...!

[mimififi]

umm, I shall look into it and maybe try it.

I'm not squeamish about eating it, I cook lamb for the others, and they are cute animals when alive. Frankly, if you eat other meats, I don't understand why you would be squeamish at eating others. If you are a complete vegetarian, then I can understand your distaste.

thanks again for all the comments. It sounds like it might be something worth trying and maybe breeding in the future along with chucks if I ever get to the level of self sufficiency that I desire!!!!

cheers.

[Rock'n'Roll]

Supposed to be very healthy. As stated though,it's hard to come by. I love it.but my gaffer,being brought up in Ireland when the mexamatosis culling was going on won't touch it.
Much more taste than chicken

[aristotle]

Forget about Peter Rabbit and the Flopsy Bunnies. Rabbit is absolutely delicious. My local butcher sells them for �1.75 a time. Last night I had a great rabbit korma and I often have it in red wine sauce. Eating rabbit really is doing a public service as, in the countryside, they are a real menace to farmers and gardeners.

[sixpence]

We used to eat rabbit when I was a child,but when we were in Malta recently, I noticed that it is on most of the restaurant menus. Bet it tasted better than the octopus that I DID try!