This recipe for Hasenpfeffer German Wine Braised Rabbit does take 2 days to marinate, but it is so worth it. Tender low-fat rabbit in a delicious wine sauce? Yes, please
Rabbit stew, also referred to as hare stew when hare is used, is a stew prepared using rabbit meat as a main ingredient. Stuffat tal-Fenek, a variation of rabbit stew, is the national dish of Malta.
Rabbit – Farmed or Wild?
When I lived in Germany with my grandmother (Oma) for a while one year, she made Hasenpfeffer for me. Her rabbit was a wild rabbit, so it had dark meat, not white like my farmed domestic rabbit is. As a result instead of white wine, she used red – but everything else is done the same as my family (Aunt Cristine aside) has done for years.
I suggest, if you are going to hunt your rabbit yourself, you should probably use red wine for the white as well.
In my video, I called this a “German Wine Braised Rabbit Stew”. A couple of people commented that they watched the whole video but I had failed to produce a “stew”. In cooking, stewing is sometimes the word we use for a slow-braize.
So full disclosure, there are no vegetables in this “stew” just some great tender rabbit with a tasty tasty gravy
Bugs really doesnt mind if you eat some rabbit, so give this dish a try. If you cant or dont want to use rabbit, make it with chicken. Just be sure to remove the skin from the chicken so you dont have flabby skin to deal with.
I hate flabby skin.
The making of Hasenpfeffer – German Wine Braised Rabbit
How long until its ready?
Two to three days. Thats how long until its ready!
Hasenpfeffer is a German Wine Braised Rabbit that has been marinated for a couple of days in a tasty onion and garlic infused wine marinade and is so so tender and fall off the bone good that you will want to make it. Often.
Rabbit is a low-fat, high-protein, easily digestible protein that has fallen out of favor as a food source since its heyday. I dont know, maybe Thumper or Bugs Bunny had something to do with it, but rabbit is still a great meat; and with their reputation as good breeders, they certainly can keep meat on the table! No, I dont raise them, and I dont kill them. I get mine frozen or order it fresh from my butcher, but you could go hunting if you choose to.
“There are probably as many family recipes for Hasenpfeffer as there are for Paella”
Rabbits are different then hares (the true translation of the word Hasen) in that they are born bald and sightless while hares are born with hair and fully sighted. Hares are also gamier in flavor; so I prefer rabbit as its meat is very mild and white. You could use rabbit in any dish that you would use chicken in, although I dont think they taste the same.
I mean, why does everything thats not beef, or pork always have to taste like chicken?
Maybe it just tastes like rabbit!
I think rabbit to hare in flavor is like lamb to mutton.
And while I love lamb, I dont like mutton.
There are probably as many family recipes for Hasenpfeffer as there are for Paella. Each family does it a little differently. My recipe comes from my great-grandfather who was a chef in Germany. Not entirely “traditional” as my Hasenpfeffer recipe uses no vinegar in the marinade, only white wine.
Because I like it that way.
My Oma made it that way, my mother made it that way, and I make it that way.
How to Cook Rabbit Two Ways | Deep Fried Rabbit and Hasenpfeffer
FAQ
What is rabbit meat called on a menu?
What do the French call rabbit meat?
What is rabbit called when cooked?
What is the German word for cooked rabbit?
What is a white rabbit dish?
The original name for this dish was, in fact, “Welsh rabbit,” though it has nothing to do with bunnies. In an attempt to reduce confusion, the name was altered to “rarebit,” but it can still trip up us American folks that are unfamiliar with the dish. The dish itself is made with a blend of melted cheese mixed with savory spices.
Is Welsh rabbit a British dish?
Also called Welsh Rabbit, this classic British dish is comprised of a complex-flavored velvety-smooth cheese sauce on toasted bread. The origin of this dish is unclear and often debated; however, it’s thought that it was originally called Welsh Rabbit, even though it didn’t contain rabbit. And it’s said it may not even be a Welsh dish!
Is Welsh rarebit a rabbit?
And no, it’s not rabbit. When you think of classic comfort foods, Welsh rarebit may not be at the top of your mind. But if you’ve had the chance to taste Welsh rarebit, you know it belongs right up there with mashed potatoes and mac ‘n’ cheese. Get to know this beloved dish, from its origins to how it’s made. What exactly is Welsh rarebit?
Why is it called Welsh rabbit?
According to many sources, what actually happened is that the name Welsh Rabbit came about as an ethnic slur against the Welsh by the English, the idea being that the impoverished and uncouth Welsh had to eat this melted cheese on toast instead of the rabbit they couldn’t afford.