Hasenpfeffer (Rabbit Stew)

Ingredients

• 3 pounds rabbit meat, cleaned and cut into pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 pound bacon, diced
• 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
• 1 tablespoon currant jelly
• 10 black peppercorns, crushed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

Directions

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels and set aside. Sprinkle rabbit with salt and coat with 1/3 cup flour, shaking off excess. Brown rabbit in remaining bacon fat. Remove from skillet, along with all but 2 tablespoons of the fat, and reserve.

Saute shallots and garlic in skillet for about 4 minutes, until tender. Stir in wine, 1 cup water and bouillon. Heat to boiling, then stir in jelly, peppercorns, bay leaf, and rosemary. Return rabbit and bacon to skillet. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer about 1 1/2 hours or until rabbit is tender.

Remove bay leaf and discard. Place rabbit on a warm platter and keep warm while preparing gravy.

To Make Gravy: Stir lemon juice into skillet with cooking liquid. Combine 3 tablespoons water with 2 tablespoons flour and mix together; stir mixture into skillet over low heat. Finally, stir in thyme. Pour gravy over stew and serve, or pour into a gravy boat and serve on the side.