Cooking a rabbit

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

Having never cooked rabbit, I really don't know where to start.  KoKo has some sort of an allergy and the vet wants me to feed her something she has never had before as a way of clearing out her system.  She suggested alligator, kangaroo, ostrich or rabbit.  KoKo will eat only one of these proteins with a carb (most likely sweet potato) for two months.  At that point I will begin to introduce one other food and so on.  Rabbit can be purchased at a butcher shop in the next town so I think that is what we will use.  They sell it as a whole rabbit.  I've never eaten rabbit or even seen one ready for cooking so it kind of creeps me out.  I am hoping the butcher will at least cut it up for me.  Does anyone know how I should cook it?  When I spoke to the butcher when trying to locate a source he said he could grind it but I would have to feed it raw.    There is a company that sells pre-made meals of rabbit and squash (like a tv dinner) but that would cost me about $100 per week.  Any help/recommendations would be appreciated.

[Diane and Alma]

I have no experience cooking rabbit but do have a story to share.  My husband and I went to The Kitchen Restaurant in Sacamento a few months ago and had an amazing dining experience.  On the menu that evening was rabbit pot pie.  It was one of the most delicious dishes I have ever tasted!  We were joking with the chef because he brought out the live Maine lobsters and some live Delta crawfish that were also on the menu.  We asked if he was going to bring out the bunnies next. 

I hope you figure out KoKo's allergy.  Bon appetit!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Well, you know that food is fresh.  When I lived in Brazil, it was nothing unusual to order your food and they would go in the back and butcher the animal and serve it fresh.  Not what we are used to here, but it does occur.  Probably better fresh like that than processed to death and sprayed with ammonia.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Definitely nothing wrong with rabbit.  The butchering is the hard part.  Once it is killed and skinned, you can roast it in the oven or cook in a crock pot.  Have the butcher cut into pieces for you.  No kibble or processed foods.  My dog could not eat any kind of processed food when he had liver disease.  I got used to the Happy Dog (bulgar and veges), routisserie chicken, and rice.

[Pat and Traveler]

I have a recipe somewhere--rabbit cooked in cream and white wine in a double boiler--it's really delicious, but this wouldn't work for a dog.  :)