Rabbit Fricassee

I had thought off and on for years about cooking a rabbit. While in New Orleans recently, I found a frozen rabbit in the freezer section and decide the time to experiment is now. I searched my cookbook collection and eventually found this recipe online.  Thanks to Emeril Lagasse for this delicious recipe. If you've never cooked rabbit, this is an excellent one to try.  The next time, I'll buy two!

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 rabbits, rinsed and cut into 8 pieces each

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups chopped yellow onions

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped green bell peppers

1 bunch green onions, chopped (green and white parts separated)

2 garlic cloves

1 t. Emeril's Essence Seasoning

4 cups chicken broth, plus more if necessary

Cooked white rice

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven.  Add the rabbit and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the rabbit to a plate lined with paper towels. 

Reduce the heat to medium, add the flour, and stir constantly to make a golden-brown roux, about 10 minutes. Add the onions, celery, bell peppers, white parts of the green onions, garlic, and Emeril's Essence Seasoning. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are very soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Return the rabbit to the skillet and simmer, covered, until the rabbit is very tender, about 3 hours, adding more broth as necessary if the mixture becomes too dry.

Add green parts of the green onions to rabbit and cook for 15 minutes. Serve the rabbit and gravy over rice.