This recipe comes from David Tanis, a cookbook author and former chef at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California
- via Saveur magazine . . .
Ingredients
2 rabbits (about 2 1⁄2 lbs. each), each cut into 6 to 8 pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1⁄2 lb. pancetta or unsmoked bacon, cut into 1⁄4"-thick strips
1 1⁄2 cups crème fraîche
3⁄4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. roughly chopped fresh thyme
2 tbsp. roughly chopped fresh sage
2 tsp. black or yellow mustard seeds, crushed
8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
4 bay leave
Instructions
Step 1
Season rabbit generously with salt and pepper and place in a large bowl along with remaining ingredients. Mix together with your hands until rabbit pieces are coated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour or overnight in the refrigerator.
Step 2
If rabbit has been chilled, allow it to come to room temperature. Heat oven to 400° and arrange a rack in the middle of oven. Divide rabbit in a single layer between 2 shallow roasting pans and top with any of the remaining marinade. Roast the rabbit, turning once and basting with pan juices occasionally, until the juices have reduced and rabbit is cooked through, about 55 minutes. Set oven to broil and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes more. Serve rabbit with pan juices.
Note: We do use sour cream in place of creme fraiche (simply unavailable in our area). We add enough sour cream and the necessary chicken stock to the pan to create enough sauce to serve with the dish.