Rabbit Recipes: Herb Roasted Rabbit and Potatoes

Please enjoy the fifth entry in our collection of some of our favorite recipes for a great rabbit dinner!

First, a bit about our pastured rabbit:

Although somewhat an uncommon meat in the United States, rabbit is a popular meat in much of the rest of the world, especially in Europe.

Rabbit is a very healthy meat. It is lower in fat than turkey, chicken, beef or pork, and has a higher percentage of protein than any of them, too. It is very easy to digest and is often used for people on special diets. Weathertop rabbit is also unique in that our rabbits eat fresh grass every day, resulting in high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their meat.

A word about cooking your rabbit: As with all pasture-raised meats, you will need to cook rabbit a little "lower and slower" (lower heat and longer time) to prevent it from drying out. Also, because rabbit is so low in fat, it is advisable to cook it in a method using moisture, such as in a sauce, or well-covered.

Enjoy!


HERB ROASTED RABBIT AND POTATOES

4 lb rabbit, cut in pieces
8 medium red potatoes, quartered
2-4 large garlic cloves
6 Tbsp olive oil
4 oz slab bacon, cut into 1" cubes
6 Tbsp fresh rosemary, or 2 Tbsp dried
2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Course salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Place potatoes and garlic in large shallow roasting pan. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp olive oil and toss to coat. Bake 30 min. Meanwhile, combine bacon and 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet and place over low heat. Cook just until bacon begins to wilt then remove. Sauté rabbit to brown on both sides. Remove roasting pan from oven and reduce heat to 350. Add rabbit, rosemary, pepper, salt, reserved pan drippings, and remaining 3 Tbsp oil. Toss thoroughly, and return to oven for 20 min. Sprinkle bacon on top and bake until meat is tender and vegetables golden, about 20 or 30 minutes longer.