(Hare with polenta - Our recipe)

Time: preparation: 20 minutes ........ plus marinating time ........ cooking: at least 1 hour 1 hare, cut into pieces 5 young fresh onions, finely chopped 3 carrots, finely chopped 2 sticks of celery, finely chopped 4 tablespoons dried chives 1 bunch fresh chives, chopped 4 tablespoons dried parsley 2 tablespoons dried sage 2 teaspoons dried bay leaves Cinnamon in a piece 3 cloves 400 g (14 oz) can chopped tomatoes 200 g (7 oz) bacon, cubed 2 l (72 fl oz – 9C) red wine 8 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Precooked cornmeal for polenta Salt Medium difficulty recipe

  Spoon measures are American spoons, that is standard cook's measuring spoons used in USA.
  The best plan is to regard 2 American teaspoons or tablespoons as 1 English teaspoon or tablespoon (eating spoons)

Let the hare marinate overnight in 1 l (36 fl oz – 4 ½ C) red wine in which you have to add the fresh chives, cinnamon and cloves (if you don’t find fresh chives, you can use 4 tablespoons of dried chives). The meat must be well covered with the wine.
The day after drain the pieces of hare and pat them dry with absorbent kitchen paper. Put the olive oil, bacon and hare pieces in a pan. Fry lightly the meat on both sides for some minutes; then add the remaining wine, all the chopped vegetables, all the aromatic herbs and chopped tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and bring to the boil. At this point lower the flame and keep on cooking, half-covered, turning the hare pieces the other way now and then, until the meat is tender and the cooking juice is retired. Add some hot vegetable stock only if necessary.
Prepare the polenta and serve it hot, well covered with the meat and its juice.

Note
It’s one of the best single course, Italy-style with game. It’s the ideal choice for a winter menu or for Christmas.

What's the right wine?
Our suggestion is: Barbaresco (red wine from Piedmont) or Torgiano (red wine from Umbria).

If you want to combine this dish with other ones for a complete menu,
consult our "Members-only Area".