Ricette di Sicilia
Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Sicilian Rabbit in Tomato Sauce – A Warming Island Classic
Discover this comforting Sicilian rabbit in tomato sauce — a traditional dish celebrated for its rich, authentic flavour.
📖 What is it
Discover this comforting Sicilian rabbit in tomato sauce — a traditional dish celebrated for its rich, authentic flavour.
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 1.2 kg rabbit, cut into pieces
- ✓ Half a clove of Nubia red garlic
- ✓ Extra-virgin olive oil
- ✓ 50 g butter
- ✓ 50 g cooked ham, finely chopped
- ✓ A small bunch of parsley
- ✓ Half a glass of white wine
- ✓ 4 ripe tomatoes
- ✓ Tomato sauce
- ✓ Salt
- ✓ Freshly ground black pepper
📊 Nutritional Information
Sicilian rabbit in tomato sauce is one of those dishes that manages to feel both rustic and refined — a true reflection of the island’s culinary soul. Passed down through generations, it celebrates the simplicity of good ingredients: ripe tomatoes, fragrant garlic, fresh parsley and tender rabbit simmered slowly into a rich, warming sauce.
It’s the kind of meal that brings to mind family Sundays, harvest seasons and long tables set under autumn skies. Perfect for a cosy dinner or a leisurely weekend lunch, it’s a dish that captures the heart of Sicily with every forkful.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Brown the rabbit in a pan with butter and extra-virgin olive oil until golden.
- 2
Season the meat with salt, add the crushed garlic and freshly ground pepper.
- 3
Stir in the chopped cooked ham and parsley.
- 4
Pour in the white wine and allow it to evaporate completely.
- 5
Add the peeled, chopped tomatoes along with the tomato sauce.
- 6
Cover and simmer gently until the sauce thickens and the rabbit becomes tender.
- 7
Serve hot, ideally with roasted potatoes or crusty bread.
💡 Tips and Variations
For an extra boost of flavour, add a handful of black olives halfway through cooking. If you prefer a richer taste, swap the cooked ham for pancetta.
📦 Storage
- • Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- • Freeze the cooked dish for up to 1 month.
- • Reheat in the oven at 160°C for 10 minutes before serving.
🍷 Pairing
Enjoy this dish with a glass of young Contea di Sclafani red wine, served at 16–18°C in balloon glasses.
Thank you for exploring this classic Sicilian rabbit dish. Deeply comforting and full of island character, it’s perfect to share with loved ones. May it bring a touch of Sicilian warmth to your table.
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