This slow cooker rabbit with juniper berries and mushrooms is going to revolutionize how you see wild game. This mouthwatering dish combines the hearty texture of rabbit with the unusual flavor of juniper berries and the earthiness of porcini mushrooms.
Slow Cooker Rabbit
Rabbit, often overlooked as a protein source, is low in fat and high in protein, making it an ideal choice for paleo and keto diets. Some may worry about keeping the meat moist and tender - a challenge that slow cooking in the marinade and broth helps overcome. This dish is a great way to incorporate rabbit meat into your diet in a new and delicious way.
Not sure what to pair with this? You can't go wrong with a side of paleo mashed potatoes!
Ingredients
Serves: 2 Prep Time: 30 m 4 hrs in + Cook Time: 4 hrs
• 2 lbs rabbit meat
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 ½ cups red wine
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves picked
• 1 tablespoon crushed Juniper berries
• 2 cups dried Porcini mushrooms
• Cooking fat
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnishing
How to Make Slow Cooker Rabbit
Begin by creating a marinade. In a large bowl, add the onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, Juniper berries, and wine. Stir and then add in the rabbit pieces. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Remove the rabbit from the marinade and pat it dry. Then, melt the cooking fat in a large skillet. Add the rabbit and sear it for 1 to 2 minutes on all sides, just until it is browned. Then, transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
Deglaze the skillet with the remaining marinade liquid. Once all food bits are scraped up and it is simmering, pour this over the rabbit in the slow cooker.
Put the slow cooker on high and cook for 1 hour.
While the rabbit cooks, put the mushrooms into 1 cup of boiling water to soak for 1 hour. Then, drain the mushrooms and pour that liquid into the slow cooker. Continue cooking for another 2 hours.
After 2 hours, remove the rabbit from the slow cooker and strain the liquid. Then, add the rabbit back to the slow cooker with the now strained liquid. Roughly chop the mushrooms and add them to the slow cooker with additional salt and black pepper. Cook for another 1 hour.
For extra richness, add additional cooking fat in the last hour of cooking.
More Recipes
Want more variety in your menu? Check out some of our favorite recipes below and bookmark them to make soon.
- Braised Rabbit with Thyme
- Bacon Wrapped Sausage with Apples
- Nicoise Chicken Stew Recipe
- Paleo Bison Meatloaf
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Rabbit with Juniper Berries and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 2 lbs rabbit meat cut into pieces
- 1 onion roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ½ cups red wine
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves picked
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary leaves picked
- 1 tablespoon crushed Juniper berries
- 2 cups dried Porcini mushrooms
- 2 tablespoon cooking fat
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnishing
Instructions
- Combine onion, garlic, herbs, juniper berries & red wine in a bowl. Add rabbit & marinate for 4 hours.1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 bay leaf, 1 ½ cups red wine, 2 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 sprig fresh rosemary, 1 tablespoon crushed Juniper berries, 2 lbs rabbit meat
- Remove the rabbit but reserve the marinade. Pat the rabbit dry then sear the rabbit in a pan for just 1 to 2 minutes per side until browned. Then add to the crockpot with the marinating liquid. Cook on high for 1 hour.2 tablespoon cooking fat
- While this cooks, soak the mushrooms in hot water for 1 hour. Drain the mushrooms and set them aside, but pour the liquid back into the slow cooker and continue cooking for another 2 hours.2 cups dried Porcini mushrooms
- Remove the rabbit from the slow cooker, and strain the liquid. Return the rabbit, chopped mushrooms, and strained liquid to the slow cooker. Continue to cook for 1 hour. For added richness, add more cooking fat to the slow cooker.Freshly ground black pepper
- Garnish with parsley before serving.Fresh parsley
Notes
- Fresh rabbit can be found at many butchers, but you can also hunt in some local areas or check with local farmers who may raise them for meat.
- This recipe is also excellent for goat to help tenderize the meat.
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