John Cesters Poultry & Game Meat

Venison & Game Meat Melbourne

Rabbit Pie with Spinach, Feta and Stewed Pear Salad

by

Preparation time: 1 hour 30 mins / Cooking time: 1 hour 30 mins / Serves: 4

Ingredients 

PUFF PASTRY

  • 250g plain flourep20_main_rabbit_pie_with_spinach_feta_stewed_pear_salad_1bdo7u2-1bdo7u8
  • 150ml cold water
  • 200g piece cold butter

RABBIT FILLING

  • 25g butter
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 1.6kg rabbit, jointed
  • 2 brown onions, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 250ml red wine
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 3 medium potatoes, cut into 2cm cubes
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 500ml water
  • 2 cups fresh podded peas

BAKED EGGPLANT CHIPS

  • 1 large eggplant, cut into chips
  • plain seasoned flour, for dusting
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 tbs water
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 50g finely grated parmesan

SALAD

  • 2 firm ripe pears, cut into wedges
  • 500ml water
  • 2 tbs caster sugar
  • 100g baby spinach leaves
  • 100g feta cheese, crumbled
  • 100g walnut pieces, toasted
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1 tbs white balsamic vinegar

Method:

  1. To make puff pastry, combine flour and water in a bowl until mixture comes together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
  2. Roll out the dough into a 10cm x 30cm rectangle. Using a rolling pin, flatten out butter into am 8cm x 9cm rectangle.
  3. Place butter in centre of dough. Fold one short end into middle, over butter, then fold opposite end over the top (butter should now be enclosed in dough).
  4. Turn dough 90° so one open end is facing you. Using rolling pin, gently press down on dough from one end to the other to slightly flatten butter. Roll into a 10 x 30cm rectangle. Fold top and bottom ends to meet at the centre. Turn dough 90° then fold one end on another, like closing a book. Repeat rolling and folding process. Refrigerate, covered in cling film, for 30 minutes.
  5. Repeat rolling and folding process two more times. Refrigerate, covered, for a further 30 minutes. Repeat rolling and folding process a further two times, refrigerating for another 30 minutes at the end. Dough should be folded and rolled six times in total. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  6. To prepare rabbit filling, heat butter and half the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook rabbit pieces in batches, turning, until browned all over. Remove and set aside.
  7. Reduce heat to medium and add remaining oil. Cook onions, carrots and garlic until soft. Add wine. Simmer until reduced by half. Stir in tomatoes, potatoes, bay leaves and water. Bring to a boil. Return rabbit to pan. Simmer for about 1 hour or until rabbit is tender. Remove from heat.
  8. Remove rabbit from pan. When cool enough to handle, pull meat away from bones.
  9. Stir peas into sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes or until thick and flavoursome. Stir in rabbit meat. Season. Cover to keep warm.
  10. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 200C. Grease 4 x 1 ½-cup (375ml) ovenproof dishes.
  11. Roll out pastry until 3mm thick. Cut out 4 rounds, just bigger than your serving dishes (remaining dough can be portioned and frozen for another time). Place on an oven tray lined with baking paper.
  12. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden and crisp.
  13. To make eggplant chips, dust eggplant pieces with flour and dip in combined egg and water. Roll in combined breadcrumbs and parmesan. Season. Place on an oven tray lined with baking paper.
  14. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
  15. To make salad, bring water and sugar to a boil in a small frying pan. Add pear wedges and cook, turning, for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool.
  16. Combine spinach, cheese, walnuts and pear wedges in a bowl. Drizzle with oil and vinegar. Toss to combine. Season.
  17. Top rabbit pies with pastry. Serve with eggplant chips and salad.

(My Kitchen Rules, 2016)