Okay, rabbit is a traditional meat and curry is a classic sauce, but who knew they went together? Of course, in curry-crazy Britain, you shouldn't be surprised. Traditionally, this dish is called a Scottish curry, but it's really just a British rabbit stew with curry added.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

　　2 tablespoons unsalted butter

　　1 (2- to 2 1/2-pound rabbit), cut into serving pieces

　　1/2 cup chopped British or Canadian bacon

　　1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

　　2 tablespoons mild curry paste

　　3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

　　1 1/2 cups pearl onions

　　2 cups button mushrooms

　　1 cup chopped celery

　　1 teaspoon salt

　　Basmatic rice (optional), for serving

　　

Step 1

1. In a Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat and sauté the rabbit pieces until well browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from the pan and reserve.

　　

Step 2

2. Using the same pan you browned the rabbit in, and without wiping it out, sauté the bacon over medium heat until it's browned and has rendered its fat in the pan, about 10 minutes. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until it is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add the curry paste and stir to combine well with the flour mixture. Stir in the chicken broth, 1/4 cup at a time. The pan contents now will have the consistency of a thin sauce.

　　

Step 3

3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the browned rabbit pieces along with the onions, mushrooms, celery, and salt. Simmer the dish, stirring occasionally, until the meat is cooked through, the onions are tender, and the sauce has thickened up, about 1 1/2 hours. Serve warm, preferably over rice.

　　From Ploughman's Lunch and the Miser's Feast: Authentic Pub Food, Restaurant Fare, and Home Cooking from Small Towns, Big Cities, and Country Villages Across the British Isles by Brian Yarvin. Copyright © 2012 by Brian Yarvin. Published by The Harvard Common Press. Used by permission of The Harvard Common Press.