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Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
#9014403
03/03/24 09:48 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,064
notamtchance
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I got me 6 cottontails and need a good recipe that would show off wild rabbit flovars to someone that has never had one before. I normally just do a stew, but with stew you don't normally taste rabbit meat. Thanks in advance.
If I'm not hunting something I must be dead.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9014465
03/03/24 11:41 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,316
1955
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9014468
03/03/24 11:47 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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One of my absolute favorites is a Cajun Stew (meat & gravy), it's not like what most people think a "stew" is. This is a Fricassee.
Quarter your rabbits up and season with salt & pepper or your favorite Cajun seasoning (no need to brine or marinate for this). Add just enough oil to coat the bottom of a cast iron Dutch Oven or a Magnalite Pot, medium/high heat and brown the meat. Reduce heat to medium low and add unsalted butter and a chopped red onion, caramelize the onion until dark. Add chopped green bell peppers & celery, sauté until soft, then add fresh minced garlic and stir in for a few minutes. Add a little Wichersister Sauce, a little Louisiana Hot Sauce (for flavor not heat), a little Pickapeppa Sauce, and a little flour. Stir all that until you have a thick DARK base, then add low sodium chicken broth to form a gravy. Let that simmer for a while uncovered and taste. Add Cajun seasoning/salt, or hot sauce to your liking. Add the rabbit back to the pot. You want enough gravy to cover the meat. I like to add chopped green onions at this time. Cover and let simmer until the meat starts falling off the bone. If gravy is too thin, simmer with the lid off. You want the gravy to be kinda thick.
Make a pot of rice & enjoy.
Or grill them,
Leave the rabbits whole. pop the legs and the ribs so that they'll lay flat. Marinate them overnight in orange juice with a little lemon juice, Cholula Hot Sauce, Wichersister Sauce, onions & garlic. Use heavy duty foil layed on the grill with the ends bent up to hold in the juices (kinda like foil boats), over a medium direct heat fire. Pull the rabbits out and dust them with your favorite seasoning, lay them down on the foil boats over some unsalted butter and close the lid. Flip when you have color, & baste with the melted butter.
When done, you can eat like that or you can glaze them. If glazing I remove them from the foil boats, brush with melted strawberry preserves (or whatever you like) and toss back on the open grill until the glaze sets up. They are really good this way also.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9014507
03/04/24 01:16 AM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 151
Bones72
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 151 |
Here's one I've used before. Saw it in Grey's sporting journal many moons ago.
Bone out the back legs and remove the backstraps and use them. Run the backstraps through a grinder mix with grated carrot, radishes, chopped up spinich and some diced onion, add some garlic, salt and pepper. Stuff that mixture into the boned out legs. Dust them in some seasoned bread crumbs.The recipe I saw said to put them straight into the oven at 350 for an hour. I fry mine for a minute or so on each side it's the only thing I've found to really break down connective tissue and silver skin in a hurry. Then I put em in the oven. Couldn't tell you a time I just usually have one I check for doneness.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9014532
03/04/24 02:23 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,862
unclebubba
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Bread and fry like chicken.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: unclebubba]
#9014809
03/04/24 06:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33,121
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33,121 |
Bread and fry like chicken. My favorite way
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9014864
03/04/24 08:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 13,315
PMK
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I always like cottontail like my mother used to cook it.
a little bacon grease in a skillet over low heat, roll rabbit pieces in seasoned flour, place in skillet and cover with lid. cook for 10 or so minutes, remove lid and turn meat, replace lid and go another 10 or so minutes. Remove meat to a plate and use same skillet ... finely chopped some onion, about a TB butter into skillet and sauté until onions are tender, put 1 TB flour and stir, then about 1/2 cup chicken stock and stir until it starts to thicken, then add ~1 TB sour cream and stir until combined. Might want to double the gravy recipe to use over mashed potatoes
"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."
~PMK~
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: PMK]
#9014871
03/04/24 08:28 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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I always like cottontail like my mother used to cook it.
a little bacon grease in a skillet over low heat, roll rabbit pieces in seasoned flour, place in skillet and cover with lid. cook for 10 or so minutes, remove lid and turn meat, replace lid and go another 10 or so minutes. Remove meat to a plate and use same skillet ... finely chopped some onion, about a TB butter into skillet and sauté until onions are tender, put 1 TB flour and stir, then about 1/2 cup chicken stock and stir until it starts to thicken, then add ~1 TB sour cream and stir until combined. Might want to double the gravy recipe to use over mashed potatoes Sour cream...I've never used that in a gravy, need to try.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9014896
03/04/24 09:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 15,614
Hudbone
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I am gunna print this thread
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: PMK]
#9015068
03/05/24 07:45 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,064
notamtchance
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I always like cottontail like my mother used to cook it.
a little bacon grease in a skillet over low heat, roll rabbit pieces in seasoned flour, place in skillet and cover with lid. cook for 10 or so minutes, remove lid and turn meat, replace lid and go another 10 or so minutes. Remove meat to a plate and use same skillet ... finely chopped some onion, about a TB butter into skillet and sauté until onions are tender, put 1 TB flour and stir, then about 1/2 cup chicken stock and stir until it starts to thicken, then add ~1 TB sour cream and stir until combined. Might want to double the gravy recipe to use over mashed potatoes This sounds good. I have to try it and a couple of others on here.
If I'm not hunting something I must be dead.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: unclebubba]
#9015105
03/05/24 12:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 20,947
Biscuit
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Joined: Nov 2017
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Bread and fry like chicken. This is what I do and it’s great
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9015469
03/06/24 01:57 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 892
machinist
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My Grandmother was born in 1886 and she feed the family lots of cottontails. She fixed it just like fried chicken. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
some people like silver and gold I like brass and lead with a little powder in between
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9015470
03/06/24 02:01 AM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 15,614
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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Grandma Altwein made a stew.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: machinist]
#9015480
03/06/24 02:14 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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Posts: 28,287 |
My Grandmother was born in 1886 and she feed the family lots of cottontails. She fixed it just like fried chicken. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. This right here is awesome! I used to deliver cleaned rabbits on ice to a few Elders that were born long before me. They wanted cottontails because that was soul food for them, and they couldn't just jump in the truck and go hunting anymore. I shot a [censored] load of rabbits illegally off of FM roads, cleaned them and delivered to folks..........back in the day.......lots of fried rabbit, and rabbits & gravy.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: skinnerback]
#9015603
03/06/24 12:52 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 13,315
PMK
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I always like cottontail like my mother used to cook it.
a little bacon grease in a skillet over low heat, roll rabbit pieces in seasoned flour, place in skillet and cover with lid. cook for 10 or so minutes, remove lid and turn meat, replace lid and go another 10 or so minutes. Remove meat to a plate and use same skillet ... finely chopped some onion, about a TB butter into skillet and sauté until onions are tender, put 1 TB flour and stir, then about 1/2 cup chicken stock and stir until it starts to thicken, then add ~1 TB sour cream and stir until combined. Might want to double the gravy recipe to use over mashed potatoes Sour cream...I've never used that in a gravy, need to try. I recently tried this with some pan seared pork chops, the sour cream adds a whole different level to the gravy.
"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."
~PMK~
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9015691
03/06/24 03:40 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,536
Huntmaster
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Not so much in hard winter; but watch for those giant worms along the back in summer. Fried as above.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: Huntmaster]
#9015808
03/06/24 08:04 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,064
notamtchance
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Not so much in hard winter; but watch for those giant worms along the back in summer. Fried as above. Mine was shot in January. I personally never hunt rabbits in the anytime excluding winter only after a good freeze. I was also taught to wait till after the first frost. I take it a step further with a good freeze.
If I'm not hunting something I must be dead.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9015818
03/06/24 08:22 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287 |
Not so much in hard winter; but watch for those giant worms along the back in summer. Fried as above. Mine was shot in January. I personally never hunt rabbits in the anytime excluding winter only after a good freeze. I was also taught to wait till after the first frost. I take it a step further with a good freeze. Old wives tale. I hunt & eat them year round and especially during the Summer at night. The rabbits I hunt in S Texas actually have MORE wolves (bot fly larvae) during the Winter vs the Summer. I too heard all of that growing up, but it's never been the case where I'm at. 
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: PMK]
#9015829
03/06/24 08:46 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287 |
I always like cottontail like my mother used to cook it.
a little bacon grease in a skillet over low heat, roll rabbit pieces in seasoned flour, place in skillet and cover with lid. cook for 10 or so minutes, remove lid and turn meat, replace lid and go another 10 or so minutes. Remove meat to a plate and use same skillet ... finely chopped some onion, about a TB butter into skillet and sauté until onions are tender, put 1 TB flour and stir, then about 1/2 cup chicken stock and stir until it starts to thicken, then add ~1 TB sour cream and stir until combined. Might want to double the gravy recipe to use over mashed potatoes Sour cream...I've never used that in a gravy, need to try. I recently tried this with some pan seared pork chops, the sour cream adds a whole different level to the gravy. Interesting, I will try it. 
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: skinnerback]
#9015831
03/06/24 08:49 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,710
rickym
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,710 |
Not so much in hard winter; but watch for those giant worms along the back in summer. Fried as above. Mine was shot in January. I personally never hunt rabbits in the anytime excluding winter only after a good freeze. I was also taught to wait till after the first frost. I take it a step further with a good freeze. Old wives tale. I hunt & eat them year round and especially during the Summer at night. The rabbits I hunt in S Texas actually have MORE wolves (bot fly larvae) during the Winter vs the Summer. I too heard all of that growing up, but it's never been the case where I'm at.  Same here, more so with the little desert rabbits that we have a ton of.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9016021
03/07/24 01:45 AM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,536
Huntmaster
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May be because you’re in “south Texas” and not North Texas. I see them all the time in the summer and not in the winter. But, there are a lot of south Texas counties with stuff not seen in north Texas. Deer disease, tons of ticks…
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9016312
03/07/24 05:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,088
Gringo Bling
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I've cooked them a few times. Braised with herbs is my favorite. They've got a lot of bones, and probably aren't worth the effort for the small amount of meat. Kind of a novelty thing to cook IMO.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9016349
03/07/24 06:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8,552
Herbie Hancock
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It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile - J. Fred Schmidt
The internet is an I.Q. Test, people post their scores in the comment section.
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: notamtchance]
#9016956
03/08/24 11:38 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 36,550
Guy
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Re: Need a good Rabbit (wild cottontail) recipe.
[Re: Guy]
#9016971
03/09/24 12:16 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,287
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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Joined: May 2011
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I didn't watch the video, but I've cooked many a rabbit on a stick roasted over a campfire when I was a kid...with no seasoning at all, and it was damn good when you're hungry. When I was a young teenager a buddy & I used to get dropped off on a ranch with tents, guns, & water. We hunted for our food every weekend and rabbits were always the first to die. Those were actually some of the best days of my life. Getting dropped off with no food and told to go find supper. To this day, all of my kids & I love to hunt & cook cottontails.
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