If you have an extra day to prepare the stew and want to make it especially extraordinary, Stuart Brioza suggests straining the cooking broth over the rabbit legs after you've finished braising them, then letting them rest overnight in the fridge. This makes the meat even more tender and moist. Plus: More Vegetable Recipes and Tips
How to Make It
In a large, heavy, heatproof casserole, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter. Season the rabbit with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat until golden all over, about 10 minutes. Transfer the rabbit to a plate. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the casserole along with the onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and cook, stirring, just until softened. Add the chicken stock, wine, bay leaves and summer savory and bring to a boil.
Return the rabbit to the casserole and cook, uncovered, over moderately low heat until just tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Let the rabbit cool in the broth for 30 minutes, then transfer to a plate to cool completely.
Pull the meat from the bones and tear it into large shreds. Cover the meat with plastic wrap. Strain the broth, pressing hard on the vegetables to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the vegetables.
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add the sugar snaps and cook until crisp-tender, 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sugar snaps to a cutting board and let cool. Return the water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 25 minutes; drain. Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch slices and the sugar snaps into 1/2-inch lengths.
In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the shiitake mushrooms and cook over moderately high heat until tender and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a large plate, cover loosely and keep warm. Add another 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the skillet. Add the zucchini and cook until tender and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the plate with the mushrooms. Add another 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the skillet. Add the potatoes and cook until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the plate. Add the radishes and onion to the skillet and cook until crisp-tender and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Return all of the vegetables to the skillet and season with salt and pepper; keep warm.
In a large saucepan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil until shimmering. Add the rabbit meat and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add the tomato and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Add the reserved rabbit broth and the parsley and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the butter, a piece at a time. Add the vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the vegetables into bowls, ladle the rabbit stew on top and serve with grilled peasant bread.
