RABBIT AND DUMPLINGS

Rabbit and Dumplings

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

For the rabbit:

2 whole rabbits

1/2 gallon mirepoix (2 parts onion, 1 part carrots and 1 part celery)

2 cups white wine

3/4 gallon chicken stock

2 cups large dice carrots

2 cups large dice celery root

2 cups large dice celery

2 cups large dice turnips

2 cups large dice onion

3/4 stick butter, divided

2 tablespoons freshly chopped rosemary leaves

2 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme leaves

2 tablespoons freshly chopped sage leaves

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Hot sauce

Worcestershire sauce

Dried thyme

For the dumplings:

1 cup all-purpose flour

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pinch ground cayenne

Pinch ground nutmeg

Pinch rubbed sage

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon melted butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add rabbits and sear. Add mirepoix, and caramelize lightly. Deglaze the pan with the wine. Add stock and simmer until rabbit is tender. Cool and pick the meat from the bones. Reserve the juice.
• Sear vegetables in some butter, about 1/4 stick until lightly browned. Add the herbs and garlic and wine. Reduce au sec (until pan is almost dry). Add 1/2 stick butter and stir to melt without breaking. Stir in the flour until incorporated. Gradually stir in reserved juice.
• Cook about 30 minutes until roux taste is gone. Add picked rabbit meat and season, to taste, with salt, pepper, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and dried thyme.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix all dry ingredients. Mix all wet ingredients. Mix the 2 together stirring as little as possible.
• Pour the hot stew in a large casserole dish and drop golf ball size dumplings all over the top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until bubbling around the edges and the dumplings have become golden brown on top.