(Lapin du Pauvre Homme)

SERVES 4

The Relais Notre-Dame, a small, family-run hotel we discovered many years ago in the charming French village of Quinson, served us this simple rabbit dish, which pairs well with a homey gratin of potatoes or fresh noodles.

1 large rabbit, in 6 pieces, with liver
1⁄2 cup flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups red wine
1 bouquet garni of bay leaf, savory, and thyme,
   wrapped in cheesecloth
1 1⁄2 cups Brown Veal Stock
1 cup pearl onions
2 cups whole mushrooms, cleaned

1. Dredge rabbit pieces, including liver, in flour, then shake to remove all but a light dusting. Salt and pepper each piece. Heat 2 tbsp. of the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and brown rabbit on all sides until golden. Remove from pan and set aside.

2. In same pan, heat 1 tbsp. of the oil and sauté onions and garlic over medium heat until tender. Add 1⁄2 cup of the wine to pan and raise heat. Cook until most of the wine has evaporated, stirring constantly to loosen any browned bits on the bottom. Add remaining 1 1⁄2 cups wine, bouquet garni, and veal stock. Cook for 5 minutes. Return rabbit to pan, cover, lower heat, and slowly simmer for 1 1⁄2–1 3⁄4 hours or until rabbit is very tender.

3. Meanwhile, blanch pearl onions in a pot of boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and peel by cutting off root ends and squeezing onions out of skin. Sauté whole mushrooms and pearl onions over medium heat in remaining 1 tbsp. oil until golden, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. When rabbit is cooked, remove from pan, cover, and keep warm. Discard bouquet garni, mash the liver in pan, then strain the sauce, pushing as many of the solids as possible through the strainer. Return sauce to pan, add rabbit, mushrooms, and onions. Simmer for 5 minutes to heat through, then serve.