Rabbit stew with olives and sun-dried tomatoes

Name: Rabbit stew with olives and sun-dried tomatoes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Rabbit 2.2 lbs; Sun-dried tomatoes in oil 3.5 oz; Black olives pitted ½ cup; White onions ¼ cup; Garlic 2 cloves; Rosemary 1 sprig; Vegetable broth 1.3 cups; Marsala wine 1.7 oz; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste; Extra virgin olive oil 1.7 tsp

it de es fr br

Gluten Free
Lactose Free

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Serving: 4
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Sebastian Fitarau

Stewed rabbit with olives and sun-dried tomatoes is this classic dish from Southern Italy that really hits the spot when you're craving something hearty and packed with tender flavor. I mean, it’s seriously good. This stewed rabbit recipe uses a slow-cooking style—pretty much magic—that brings out the best in the meat. After simmering for a while, the rabbit gets so moist it almost falls off the bone. Really, it’s that good.

And here's the thing: what sets this apart from a regular stew is the Sicilian or Calabrian olives, plus those chewy, sweet sun-dried tomatoes. Folks down south love to splash in a bit of Marsala wine, which gives the sauce this rich taste that lingers. It's the kind of rustic rabbit dish meant for a big table, with everyone grabbing seconds and mopping up sauce with crusty bread.

Most people say this rabbit stew with olives and sun-dried tomatoes is way, way better the next day, once the flavors have really mixed together. On Sundays, you'll find families in places like Puglia or Sicily around a pot of this, letting the aromatic smells fill the house as it simmers low and slow. Honestly, it’s all about the simple things—good company, a glass of wine, and food that makes you feel at home. And the sauce? Super tasty.

The combination of briny olives, tangy tomatoes, and that golden sauce from slow-cooking is what makes this dish different from any other Italian rabbit stew. Some folks even toss in a few garden herbs to boost the taste. This rabbit stew with sun-dried tomatoes really sums up what home-style southern Italian cooking is all about: taking your time, enjoying every bite, and using ingredients that remind you of family traditions. It’s a meal that sticks with you—not just because it’s filling—but because it feels like something special every time it’s on the table. Imagine a sunny afternoon, the warm breeze carrying the scent of herbs, making each moment feel like a celebration of life and good food. For real.

How to prepare Rabbit stew with olives and sun-dried tomatoes

To prepare rabbit stew with olives and sun-dried tomatoes, first drain the sun-dried tomatoes from the oil and prepare the Vegetable broth following our recipe. Slice both the onion 1 and the garlic 2. Instead, cut the sun-dried tomatoes into strips 3.

In a pot, heat the oil and add the rabbit 4 and brown on all sides over medium heat until golden, it will take about 5-10 minutes. Then add the onion 5 and garlic 6.

Add the rosemary 7 and deglaze with Marsala 8. Stir and let all the alcohol evaporate. At this point, add the sun-dried tomatoes 9.

Pour the broth into the pot 10, season with salt 11 and pepper 12.

Stir, cover with a lid 13, and cook over low heat for about 40 minutes or until the rabbit is tender. If necessary, you can add more broth during cooking. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the olives 14 and stir one last time. Serve 15.

Complete with a bit of cooking juice 16 and some chopped rosemary 17. Rabbit stew with sun-dried tomatoes is ready to be served hot 18.

Storage

Rabbit stew with olives and sun-dried tomatoes can be stored in the fridge, in a closed container, for 2 days. Before enjoying it again, we recommend gently reheating it in a pan, adding a splash of water or broth.

Tip

As an alternative to Marsala, you can deglaze the rabbit with a good dry white wine. If you like it spicy, you can add a fresh chili during browning or a pinch of smoked paprika.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.