It’s such a hoot to be back in France! When I bought this bunny rabbit at Maison Trotoux, he asked me 3 times if I wanted the head cut off and included in the package. I told him 3 times, with graphic gestures, to cut off the head and throw it in the garbage or whatever.
I must have blinked or something because when I arrived home, there was the head along with the saddle, legs and other edible parts! I guess I will never convince these French butchers that I don’t want the head, so in the future I’ll just take it, cook it or toss it as I see fit. In this case, I cooked it. M. Parret wanted it 😀
Maison Trotoux provides good quality viandes and the rabbit cooked up beautifully, head and all.
While rabbit wasn’t the first thing I ate when I arrived (gillardeau oysters, strawberry melba, calf’s liver, ris de veau), it was the first thing I cooked, and with fresh ingredients from the farmers’market, I enjoyed every minute. The rich sauce of lardons, shallots, shitake mushrooms, mustard, white wine, thyme and chicken broth was a fantastic welcome back to the kind of cooking I like!
Butter!
I adore the woman who is recently installed next to Jean Louis of the magret de canard. She has gorgeous mushrooms, herbs, and aromatics. I wanted girolles mushrooms but she didn’t have any on this day. The shitake were fine.
To be absolutely honest, I’m not exactly sure how I cooked the rabbit because it’s been a while with my computer problems, finding a replacement USB cord for my camera and getting the house back in shape. However, the following recipe is probably close. I served it with lightly sauteed courgette ribbons and tagliatelle pasta.
Rabbit with Lardons, Mustard and Mushrooms
1 rabbit, cut up
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup lardons
1 generous knob of butter
2 large shallots, thinly sliced
2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 lb shitake mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Season the rabbit pieces with salt and pepper, brown in a skillet in the olive oil, then place in a casserole or tajine with cover and set aside.
In a clean skillet, brown the lardons, add the butter, then the shallots and garlic. Saute until the shallots are soft, then add the mushrooms and continue to saute until the mushrooms start to release their water. Add the wine and boil vigorously for about 3 minutes. Stir in the broth, mustard, thyme, salt and pepper until smooth.
Pour the sauce into the casserole with the rabbit and gently stir. Bring to a boil, cover, then simmer for about 45 minutes.
Dazzling, with or without the rabbit’s head. Tx Rose for this fab recipe! Welcome “home”.
Thanks Kathy.
Hw wonderful – to be back in France, to see M. Parret and to eat this ownderful dish! Bienvenue 🙂
Thanks Chica, it’s such a relief to be back 😀
Bienvenue en France
Thank you Sally.
What a truly gorgeous pot of food, served rustically. Awesome!
Thank you Frugal.
It’s great to see you back in France! M. Parret looks very pleased with your cooking.
How could you possibly not want the rabbit’s head 😉
I don’t know Mad. Maybe I do 🙂
I love the stall holder’s attitude – “She can’t possibly not want it!”
You’re not in Kansas anymore 😉
how long are you back for?
Until forced on the plane at gunpoint 😀
Rosemary’s in Heaven, All’s right with the world. 😉
😉
Looks delicious. Did you saute the courgette ribbons?
Yes I did Nadia. Briefly in butter.
Looks gorgeous! Looking forward to seeing some french inspired food from Rosemary now that you are back in France. Glad you didn’t photograph the head…. 🙂
Thank you tiny. Too bad I didn’t photograph the head 😀
I’ve been waiting for you to post during you trip back to France. Fantastic!
Thank you. I’ve had a rough start up but things are smoothing out now.
I bet M. Parrett is very happy to have you back in France 🙂
I was certainly happy to see him!
Magic. Very nice indeed my friend 🙂
Thank you food.
I’ll be shopping for rabbit when we are in France this summer. I’ve been wanting to cook it for so long! Great recipe.
Be sure to go to a farmers’ market or a good traiteur and tell him you want the head 🙂
Wonder if I’m brave enough. I can’t wait for the markets!
Oh what a wonderful meal, will prepare this soon!
A joy to be back in France I’m sure. I will enjoy catching up on your adventures.