Marinated and Stewed Rabbit

How to Cook Everything; Mark Bittman. Posted per request. This recipe is intended for wild rabbit, not domesticated.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 2  cups red wine
• 1⁄2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1  carrot, roughly chopped
• 1  onion, roughly chopped plus
• 2  cups  minced onions
• 1 (3 lb)  rabbit, cut into 8 serving pieces (as you would chicken)
•  fresh parsley sprig (several, or may use thyme)
•  salt
•  fresh ground black pepper
• 4  slices bacon
• 1  cup  diced carrot
• 1  cup  diced celery
• 1⁄2 lb  wild mushroom (see note)
•  flour, for dredging
• 1  ounce  unsweetened chocolate, chopped

Directions

1. *Note: for mushrooms, may use 1 ounce dried porcini, soaked in water to soften, drained (reserve soaking liquid) and mixed with ½ lb button mushrooms.
2. Mix the wine, vinegar, and chopped carrot and chopped onion in a bowl large enough to hold the rabbit.
3. Tie together the parsley or thyme, or put in a cheesecloth sack or tea ball; add the herb to the marinade with the rabbit; add some salt and pepper.
4. Marinate in the refrigerator, turning the rabbit pieces occasionally, for 12-24 hours.
5. Strain the marinade, reserving it, and dry the rabbit pieces.
6. Cut the bacon into bits and render it over med-low heat in a Dutch oven or large deep skillet.
7. When it has given up much of its fat and is becoming nice and crisp, remove it with a slotted spoon and set aside.
8. Add in 2 cups minced onion, diced carrot, and diced celery; cook/stir over med-low heat; chop the mushrooms and add them too.
9. When the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes later, remove them with a slotted spoon and set aside with the bacon.
10. Turn the heat to med-high; dredge the rabbit pieces in flour, and brown them in the fat that remains in the pan.
11. Season them with salt and pepper as they brown.
12. When they are browned, decrease the heat and return the vegetables and bacon to the pan; stir, then add the chocolate, some salt, and plenty of pepper.
13. Decrease the heat even further, cover, and cook until the rabbit is tender and the sauce is thick, about 1 hour.
14. If the sauce is too thin, remove the meat to a warm oven and reduce the sauce over high heat, stirring near constantly, until it is a pleasant thickness.
15. Remove the herbs; check and correct seasoning; serve immediately with buttered noodles, rice, or crusty bread.