Skillet-Roasted Rabbit with Pancetta-Basted Fingerlings
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
- 8 ounces pancetta, diced
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 3 fat cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 fryer rabbits
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- In an ovenproof saute pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat.
- Add the potatoes, cut-side down, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until they begin to brown.
- Add the pancetta, rosemary, and garlic and toss to combine.
- Place the pan in the oven and roast until the potatoes are tender and the pancetta is crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, discard the rosemary, and place the potatoes, garlic, and pancetta on paper towels to drain the excess fat.
- Reserve.
- To prepare the rabbits, using a sharp knife, begin by removing the front legs at the joint and set aside.
- Next, slice off the loins, or the strips of meat that run along the backbone of each rabbit.
- Slice each loin into rough 1-inch chunks and reserve.
- Finally, debone the back legs, cutting the meat off the bone in pieces about the same size as the loin slices.
- Keep the leg meat separate from the pieces of loin.
- Season all the rabbit pieces with salt and pepper.
- In a cast-iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the front legs and back leg pieces and brown very well, turning frequently, 4 to 5 minutes.
- When the rabbit legs are mahogany, add the loin pieces and sear on both sides.
- Remove immediately and place on the plate with the potatoes, allowing the residual heat to finish cooking the meat.
- When ready to serve, return the rabbit meat to the skillet along with the potatoes, pancetta, and garlic.
- Cook until the potatoes are heated through.
- Add the parsley, toss, and serve from the pan.
unsalted butter, potatoes, pancetta, rosemary, garlic, fryer rabbits, kosher salt, extravirgin olive oil, parsley
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/skillet-roasted-rabbit-with-pancetta-basted-fingerlings-383912 (may not work)