Recipes for rabbit and chicken always seem to spark interest from readers and perhaps because the timing is right for Easter in Australia, there was a surge of interest for a recipe of rabbit as cooked in Ragusa, Sicily.
Maybe in Australia( for those who don’t go camping), cooking rabbit is a good recipe for Easter, or perhaps more home cooks are appreciating these traditional recipes for rustic meats.
My last blog post was a recipe for rabbit:
SICILIAN CUNNIGHIU (RABBIT) AS COOKED IN RAGUSA, ‘A PORTUISA
But here’s the question I often get: Is rabbit considered a suitable Easter dish in Australia?
The answer is yes, but rabbit is not as common or inexpensive as it once was. If you find rabbit hard to source or expensive, you can easily substitute chicken in any of the rabbit recipes below, and vice versa. The flavours and techniques are quite adaptable.
The photos of some of my Sicilian dishes show how popular rabbit and chicken are in Sicilian cuisine.
This post has links for many of my favourite Italian rabbit, hare and chicken recipes that are already on my blog, as well as a few recipes for an Italian Easter that include kid, lamb and pies that are very common in Ragusa, Sicily.
Cooking with the Seasons
One thing that always fascinates me is how the seasons influence our cooking -especially when comparing Italy and Australia. While Italians are celebrating Easter in spring with tender lamb or kid, fresh artichokes, spring greens, and creamy ricotta that is at its best in spring, we in Australia are in autumn.
Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi voi.
This is a common Italian saying that seems appropriate for Australia as well. Whether that’s friends, neighbours, or family, Easter is a time to gather around good food, and that’s what these recipes are all about.
Easter in Ragusa, Sicily
If you happen to be in Ragusa with some of my relatives in Sicily, you might celebrate Easter casually with family and friends, sharing scacce or impanate -delicious pastries filled with vegetables or vegetables and meat wrapped in a golden, olive-oil pastry. (You’ll find links to my recipes for those below!)
If you decide to substitute rabbit for chicken in a recipe, just remember:
Rabbit is leaner and may need a little extra moisture while cooking.
Cook it longer and more gently — slow braises bring out its unique flavour.
Rabbit and hare recipes:
RABBIT with cloves, cinnamon and red wine (CONIGLIO DA LICODIA EUBEA)
ONE WAY TO COOK RABBIT LIKE A SICILIAN
CONIGLIO A PARTUISA (Braised rabbit as cooked in Ragusa)
PAPPARDELLE (PASTA WITH HARE OR GAME RAGÙ)
LEPRE ALLA PIEMONTESE (HARE – SLOW BRAISE PIEDMONTESE STYLE
Chicken recipes:
POLLO OR GALLINA ALLA CONTADINA, ALLA PAESANA – BRAISED CHICKEN WITH OLIVES, SICILIAN STYLE.
POLLO AL GUAZZETTO (SARDINIAN CHICKEN BRAISED WITH SAFFRON)
POLASTRO IN TECIA – POLLASTRO IN TECCIA IN ITALIAN (CHICKEN COOKED AS IN THE VENETO REGION OF ITALY)
Easter food, Ragusa, Sicily:
SCACCE and PIZZA and SICILIAN EASTER
SCACCE (focaccia-like stuffed bread)
‘MPANATA (A lamb pie, Easter treat)
Other Sicilian Easter dishes:
SFINCIONE DI PALERMO (A pizza/focaccia type pie)
EASTER SICILIAN SPECIALTIES …. Cuddura cù ll’ova, Pecorelle Pasquali
RAGU` DI CAPRETTO – Goat/ kid ragout as a dressing for pasta SPEZZATINO DI CAPRETTO
(Italian Goat/ Kid stew)KID/GOAT WITH ALMONDS (SPRING IN SICILY, CAPRETTO CON LE MANDORLE)
PASQUA in Sicilia – EASTER IN SICILY (post 2)
Ponte Rosso, Trieste
And if you wish to be in Trieste:
Traditional Easter Sweets in Trieste in Friuli Venezia Giulia