Elmer Fudd's Favorite Wild Rabbit Reuben Sandwich
If Elmer Fudd had a list of his favorite rabbit recipes, I can guarantee that this Wild Rabbit Reuben Sandwich would be at the top of that list!I'm always trying to come up with more ways to utilize the wild game and fish I harvest in more of my favorite sandwiches. This salty, cured corned wild rabbit balances perfectly with the tart sauerkraut and creamy, melted Swiss. Plus, it's all crammed between two slices of toasted rye bread - the best sandwich bread of all time! If you're craving the flavors of this classic Reuben sandwich, make this wild rabbit recipe version - I promise, it won't disappoint!My goal for the Elmer Fudd Wild Rabbit Reuben was to make a Reuben sandwich so big you needed two hands to hold it and when you took a bite, Thousand Island dressing would drip down your arms. You could make a smaller version with less meat on each of the four sandwiches if you can only get your hands on one rabbit.The process of making the corned wild rabbit takes about 4 days, but this delicious sandwich itself comes together in less than 15 minutes. ELMER FUDDI named this sandwich after my favorite Looney Tunes character - Elmer Fudd. Elmer is one of the most famous Looney Tunes cartoon characters, as well as an avid hunter who spends the hunting season chasing both Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Elmer Fudd's signature catchphrase is, "Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits".If you haven't seen them yet, I highly recommend the Hunting Trilogy - three short cartoon movies starring Elmer Fudd on the hunt for both Bugs and Daffy:Rabbit Fire (1951)Rabbit Seasoning (1952)Duck! Rabbit, Duck! (1953)And although I appreciate the humor that Elmer Fudd's character brings to the screen, I myself have never ever been confused about when it is duck hunting season or rabbit hunting season here in North Dakota!RABBIT HUNTING IN NORTH DAKOTAChasing rabbits in North Dakota is a lot of fun! Rabbit hunting season is open year-round, there are no bag limits, and North Dakota residents do not need a license. If you find a good hunting spot, you can be fairly certain you'll bag at least a few rabbits, making your hunting trip a success. Thus, rabbit hunting is a great way to introduce kids and novices to hunting. Your chances of harvesting a few rabbits are pretty good around our parts where we like to target the edges of wheat and soybean fields. Just be sure and get the landowners permission before hunting! WHAT IS CORNED RABBIT? WHAT IS CORNED BEEF?Corned rabbit, like corned beef, is meat that has been cured in a salt solution. Before refrigeration, meat was salted and cured to be preserved. Any type of meat can be put through the curing process that makes what we know as corned beef today. I've used the same process to make corned goose, corned venison, and this corned rabbit recipe.If you would like to try another one of my favorite corned rabbit recipes, check out this Corned and Cooked Rabbit and Cabbage.MORE RABBIT RECIPESI highly recommend giving rabbit hunting a try, allowing you to try out some new rabbit recipes like this Braised Rabbit with Polenta and Mushrooms, the Rabbit Korma, or Rabbit Tortilla Soup. If you live outside North Dakota but would like to come for a rabbit hunt, you can visit the ND Game and Fish website to learn the regulations and how to obtain a license.And if you want me to come along with you as your camp cook, photographer, or butcher, you can find out more details here.CONNECT WITH ME AND JOIN OUR WILD GAME COOKING COMMUNITYIf you make Elmer Fudd's Favorite Wild Rabbit Reuben Sandwich, I’d love for you to join our community and connect with me so we can all see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #wildgameandfishDid you enjoy Elmer Fudd's Favorite Wild Rabbit Reuben Sandwich Recipe? Be sure to leave a 5-star rating RIGHT HERE!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cottontail rabbits
- 6 cups water
- ⅓ cup Morton's Tender Quick
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 Tablespoons pickling spice (divided in half)
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 8 slices rye bread
- 4 Tablespoons butter, softened
- ½ cup Thousand Island dressing
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- 1 cup sauerkraut
Instructions
- On a cutting board, cut the rabbit into 9 pieces with game shears. Cut the saddle (center portion) into 3 pieces. Cut the front portion (front legs) in half through the backbone. Chop each hind leg into 2 pieces.
- In a 2-quart pot or larger, add Tender Quick, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of the pickling spice, and garlic to the and boil for a few minutes until tender quick and brown sugar are dissolved.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely in the fridge. Once it has cooled, place the rabbit pieces in a 1-gallon Ziploc bag and add the brine. Seal and lay flat inside a 9 x 13 casserole dish and place in the refrigerator for 4 days. Check daily to make sure the rabbit pieces are completely submerged and stir the brine.
- After 4 days, remove the rabbit pieces from the brine and rinse well under cool water.
- Transfer rabbit pieces to a 6-quart pot and add just enough fresh water to cover the meat. Add the other 2 tablespoons of pickling spice and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, cover, and gently simmer for about 2 hours until the meat is falling off the bone.
- When the rabbit is done, remove it from the cooking liquid and transfer it to a cutting board to let cool. Shred the meat using 2 forks. Be careful to remove all small bones.
- Butter one side of each slice of rye bread. On the non-butter side spread 1 tablespoon of Thousand Island dressing on each slice. Top half of the slices with cheese, corned rabbit, and sauerkraut. Top each sandwich with remaining slices, dressing side down.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place a sandwich in the skillet and cook until golden and cheese is melted, about 4 minutes per side.
- Lift the sandwiches onto a cutting board. Cut each in half diagonally and serve.
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