Lagos/Kounelli Fournou (Baked Hare Or Rabbit)

Servings: 4
Ingredients:

1    Rabbit or hare
-- cleaned and skinned
2    Celery stalks, with leaves,
-- chopped
2 md Onions; chopped
1    Carrot; sliced
1/2 c  Chopped fresh parsley
1    Bay leaf; crumbled
2    Sprigs fresh rosemary
6    Peppercorns; bruised
2 c  Dry red wine
1/2 c  Vinegar
1/4 c  Butter or margarine
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
4    Fresh tomatoes; chopped -OR-
8 oz -Tomato sauce
3    Allspice berries

After washing the rabbit or hare thoroughly and cutting into serving
pieces, place in a large glass or earthenware bowl. Make a marinade by
combining the celery, onions, carrots, herbs, peppercorns, wine, and
vinegar and pouring over the meat. Cover and refrigerate for a day or
two, turning the pieces over occasionally.

On serving day, drain, reserving the marinade, and wipe dry. Transfer the
marinade to a casserole and simmer for 15 minutes. While the marinade is
cooking, heat the butter in a large frying pan, and when very hot sear the
meat over high heat until it is reddened in color without browning.
Remove from the heat, and with a spatula lift the rabbit or hare pieces
into the simmering marinade, then pour in the remaining butter. Taste for
seasoning, then add the salt and pepper, tomatoes, and allspice. Weight
the meat with a small plate to keep it under the sauce, then bake it in a
very slow oven (225 F) for 2-1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender and
the sauce thickened.

Source: The Food of Greece - by Vilma Liacouras Chantiles
Avenel Books, New York
ISBN:0-517-27888-X

Typed for you by Karen Mintzias

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