Rabbit Confit

A classic technique to slowly cook rabbit in oil. When we make this meal we use this recipe as a base and modify it with whatever ingredients are available in the pantry or greenhouse. Often we’ll make a delicious side dish of honey roasted carrots and buttery garlic mashed potatoes.

Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 3 hours

Items

  • large dutch oven or oven-safe pot and lid
  • baking paper
  • paper towel
  • cast iron grill pan

Ingredients

  • 1 rabbit cut into pieces
  • 1 onion (small onion, shallots, large spring onion)
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 4 sprigs of rosemary
  • 6 sprigs of thyme
  • 15-20 garlic cloves
  • 10 cloves
  • 10 star anise pods or powder
  • 10 cardamom pods or powder
  • 2 tablespoon of mustard seeds
  • 20 whole pepper corns
  • 3+ cups of oil (vegie and olive)
  • salt and pepper to season (use in pot)
  • pepper to season (use in pan)
  • lemon to serve

Method

Step 1 – oven

  1. Pre-heat oven 150°C / 300°F.
  2. Rinse rabbit under cold running water then pat dry with paper towel.
  3. Place the rabbit in the pot or dutch oven. Add all dry ingredients, excluding the pepper seasoning.
  4. Cover everything with oil which should sit about 1/2″ or 1.25cm above the rabbit.
  5. Cut baking paper into a circle to place on top of the oil. Cover with lid and place in oven.
  6. Cook for around 3 hours, occasionally checking the oil never comes to a full simmer.

Step 2 – grill pan

  1. Pre-heat pan until hot but not smoking.
  2. Remove pot from oven. Remove rabbit and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Lightly sear on grill pan.
  4. Serve with a drizzle of the confit oil, a squeeze of lemon and your favourite side dish.