Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 rabbit, dressed and eviscerated and cut into 8 pieces
  • (2 front haunches, 2 rear haunches and 4 saddle pieces)
  • 4 tablespoons virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium Spanish onion, chopped 1/2-inch dice
  • 2 pieces whole hot Calabria peppers
  • 1/2 pound crimini mushrooms, halved
  • 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, cut 1/8-inch julienne
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • Juice and zest of 1 orange
  • 2 cups dry white wine
  • 1 cup basic tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves

Method

  • Season flour with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper.
  • Rinse and pat dry pieces, including liver, heart and kidneys.
  • Dredge all pieces in flour and shake off excess.
  • In a heavy bottom Dutch oven or La Creuset, heat olive oil until smoking.
  • Cook pieces of rabbit, 3 to 4 at a time, until dark golden brown and remove to plate, about 20 minutes.
  • When finished with rabbit, add onions, chilies, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and sugar and cook until onions have softened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add orange juice, white wine and tomato sauce and bring to a boil.
  • Add rabbit pieces and lower heat to a simmer and cook 45 to 50 minutes, until meat is tender and sauce has reduced by two-thirds.
  • Check for seasoning, place on serving platter, sprinkle with orange zest, rosemary and serve.