Hare (Rabbit) Ragout Les Fougeres

MarraMamba's Note:

This is from a fabulous fine dining restaurant near me in chelsea quebec, they published a cookbook and this is one of the recipes. I love ragout's and if you cant find rabbit use chicken

• Total Time: 1 hrs 40 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 hares, jointed
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 6 ounces lardon bacon
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 6 whole garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tablespoons red currant jelly
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 325 ml white wine (1/2 bottle)
• 2 tablespoons crushed juniper berries
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 3 bay leaves
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a heavy bottomed, oven proof casserole, heat olive oil butter and bacon over medium high until the fat renders from the bacon.
2. Add the hare pieces and brown well on all sides. Season with salt and pepper. Add onion, carrot, and garlic cloves, continuing to cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables have started to brown. Add the rest of the ingredients.
3. Cover with lid and cook in the oven at 375 degrees for 1 hour or until tender.

Reviews

[Baby Kato]

First I should tell you that my husband & I enjoyed this dish very much. It was rich, robust, tender and very flavourful. I wasn't able to find any rabbit so I used chicken breasts and drumsticks. I omitted the juniper berries and used blackberry jam. I can't wait to try this with rabbit. Thanks so much for sharing.

[mersaydees]

I need to make this again and re-rate it because I think it's really worth 5 stars. Since it's a restaurant-quality recipe, I believe that I missed the mark! I didn't even like my photos! I'm sure I've had a similar dish at a fine restaurant, so I know roughly how it should taste and present. I will try this again when I find a larger rabbit! My DH thinks that a larger rabbit/hare may make a big difference. Made for Newest Zaar Tag '08.