Rabbit étouffée with Baked Cheese Grits
You can never have too many Southern recipes, so give Rabbit étouffée with Baked Cheese Grits
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sauté bacon in wide ovenproof pot over medium heat until crisp.
Transfer bacon to paper towels.
Sprinkle rabbit with salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high. Working in batches, add rabbit to pot and sauté until browned, turning often, about 10 minutes per batch.
Add 1 tablespoon butter to pot; add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
Add garlic, thyme, and bay leaves; stir 1 minute. Return rabbit and bacon to pot.
Add wine; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in broth and tomatoes; bring to boil. Cover pot tightly.
Transfer to oven and cook rabbit until very tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among plates; spoon grits alongside.
Recommended wine: Riesling, Sparkling Wine, Zinfandel
Southern works really well with Riesling, Sparkling Wine, and Zinfandel. In general, there are a few rules that will help you pair wine with southern food. Food-friendly riesling or sparkling white wine will work with many fried foods, while zinfandel is great with barbecued fare. You could try Schloss Vollrads Riesling Spatlese. Reviewers quite like it with a 4 out of 5 star rating and a price of about 29 dollars per bottle.
![Schloss Vollrads Riesling Spatlese]()
Schloss Vollrads Riesling Spatlese
Classic natural sweet Spatlese with nice acidity and elegant, natural residual sugar. Selective harvest, gentle processing of the must, systematic clarification, slow fermentation and careful finishing are the basics for this traditional Vollrads' Riesling.This wine pairs perfectly with Asian cuisine due to the harmony of sweetness and acidity. Also interesting taste combinations can be achieved through the pairing of blue-veined cheese or a fruit dessert.