- Why use wine?
- Alcohol acts as a solvent, releasing flavors from the vegetables that water can't. Plus, the acid tenderizes the meat.
- Substitute for parsnip?
- Parsley root or celeriac work, but parsnip's nutty sweetness pairs best with rabbit.
Rabbit & Root Vegetable Pie
The 'Game Pie' is a medieval legacy. Since rabbit is extremely lean, it tends to dry out. A sealed, steamy pie environment combined with the natural sugars of root vegetables (carrots, parsnips) ensures juiciness. Wine acidity tenderizes the fibers, while the stock adds body to the sauce.
Ingredients
1 1/2
lbs
Rabbit Meat (boneless, cubed)
1
sheet
Puff Pastry
2
medium
Carrots
2
medium
Parsnips
1 1/4
cups
Chicken Stock
1/2
cup
Dry White Wine
4
tbsp
Butter
2
tbsp
All-Purpose Flour
1
large
Egg (for wash)
2
sprigs
Fresh Thyme
Shopping List (0)
Equipment Needed
- Deep Ceramic Baking Dish
- Whisk
- Pastry Brush
Allergen Information
Wheat
Milk
Egg
Instructions
1
✓
Peel and dice carrots and parsnips into uniform cubes. Pat rabbit dry.
Tip: Uniform size means uniform cooking.
2
✓
Sear rabbit in butter over high heat until browned. Remove meat, leave fat.
Tip: The fond at the bottom creates depth.
3
✓
Sauté vegetables in remaining fat for 5 mins. Dust with flour, stir, then deglaze with wine. Add stock.
Tip: Flour thickens the liquid.
4
✓
Return meat, season, add thyme. Simmer 10-15 mins until thickened. COOL COMPLETELY.
Tip: Cooling is essential for pastry texture.
5
✓
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Fill dish, cover with pastry. Cut vents, brush with egg.
Tip: Seal edges to trap steam.
6
✓
Bake 25-30 mins until golden and crisp.
Tip: Done when sauce bubbles at the edges.
Recipe FAQ
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs Rabbit Meat (boneless, cubed)
- 1 sheet Puff Pastry
- 2 medium Carrots
- 2 medium Parsnips
- 1 1/4 cups Chicken Stock
- 1/2 cup Dry White Wine
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1 large Egg (for wash)
- 2 sprigs Fresh Thyme