Rabbit Braised in Belgian Ale

Rabbit, seared and braised with onions, celery root, and Belgian ale.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 24, 2022
Elise Bauer
Rabbit Braised in Belgian Ale
Elise Bauer

Fall comes to Sacramento later than much of the country, but come it does. The winds blow and the leaves scatter and all one wants for dinner is a warming stew.

In this recipe we are braising rabbit, over onions and celery root, in a sauce of Belgian ale and whole grain mustard. It's a carbonnade of sorts, but with rabbit, and is perfect alongside crusty bread to sop up the sauce or over a batch of egg noodles.

If you are unfamiliar with cooking rabbit, you can often find whole frozen rabbits and specialty markets. If you can, call ahead and have the butcher defrost and part out the rabbit.

Rabbit Braised in Belgian Ale

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 75 mins
Total Time 95 mins
Servings 4 servings

Many markets carry whole frozen rabbits. Call ahead to have your butcher defrost and cut rabbit into parts. Otherwise, defrost by by placing into a large bowl of cool water. Once thawed, cut into parts (see these instructions). Try to remove any stray little bones at the edges of some of the cuts of rabbit.

The dish works best with a Belgian ale. If not available, try Newcastle brown ale or Anchor Steam ale, or O-Doule amber ale if you need to avoid alcohol. Do not attempt this recipe with a hoppy beer.

Ingredients

  • 1 (2 1/2 to 3 pound) rabbit, cut into 6 to 7 serving pieces (2 front legs, 2 back legs, the loin cut into 2 to 3 pieces), plus ribs and flap meat

  • Kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 medium onions, sliced stem to root (about 2 1/2 cups sliced)

  • 4 to 6 whole cloves garlic, peeled

  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme, tied together with kitchen string (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)

  • 1 1/2 cups Belgian ale, such as Chimay or Ommegang

  • 1/2 cup chicken stock

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 celery root, peeled and diced

  • 2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard

  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Method

  1. Sprinkle rabbit pieces with salt:

    Place rabbit pieces on a platter, sprinkle both sides with kosher salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to an hour.

    sprinkle rabbit pieces with salt for braised rabbit dish
    Elise Bauer
  2. Dredge rabbit with flour, brown in butter:

    Place flour on plate. Dredge rabbit pieces in flour.

    dredge rabbit in flour for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer

    Heat oil and butter in a large Dutch oven on medium heat (large enough to fit rabbit pieces in a single layer). Once the butter is melted and foamy, add the rabbit pieces in a single layer to the pot.

    add rabbit to pot for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer
    brown rabbit pieces in butter for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer

    Brown on one side without stirring for 5 to 6 minutes. Then turn the pieces over and brown on the other side. Remove to a plate.

  3. Brown the onions, add garlic and thyme:

    Add the sliced onions to the pot, and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly brown, scraping up and browned rabbit bits from the bottom of the pot. Add garlic cloves and thyme, cook until onions are soft and the garlic quite fragrant.

    cook onions for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer
    brown onions for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer
  4. Add ale, then stock, salt, pepper:

    Increase the heat to high and add the Belgian ale. Let it simmer for a minute or two, then add the stock. Add a half teaspoon of salt and the freshly ground black pepper.

    add ale and stock to onions for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer
  5. Add celery root, rabbit, then simmer:

    Place the diced celery root over the onions in a single layer. Place the browned rabbit pieces over the celery root. Bring to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat to maintain a very low simmer. Cook for 45 minutes, or until the rabbit is just cooked through and tender.

    add celery root to onions and ale
    Elise Bauer
    add browned rabbit to pot for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer
  6. Reduce sauce:

    Remove rabbit pieces from the pot and keep warm on a platter. Increase the heat to high and reduce the liquid by one third. Then, reduce the heat to low, stir in the mustard and sugar. Taste and add more salt and pepper in needed.

    remove braised rabbit pieces
    Elise Bauer
    reduce sauce for braised rabbit recipe
    Elise Bauer
  7. Return meat to sauce in pot:

    Slice the flap meat pieces of the rabbit into strips and return to the pot. Strip away any available meat from the back and chest parts and return meat to the pot. Add the serving pieces to the pot. Cover and let rewarm for a minute.

  8. Serve:

    Sprinkle with chopped parsley to serve. Serve with crusty bread, egg noodles, or rice pilaf, along with some Belgian ale.

Links:

Italian Braised Rabbit on Hunter Angler Gardener Cook

Rabbit Confit from Leite's Culinaria

Rabbit Stifado on Kalofagas

Coniglio alla Sanremasca (Ligurian Rabbit, Sanremo Style) from Samurai Viking Cuisine

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
388 Calories
17g Fat
35g Carbs
18g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 388
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 402mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 12mg 60%
Calcium 70mg 5%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 526mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.