Rabbit Jerky

[tm_bunnyloft]

We butchered rabbits yesterday and my husband said not to save the belly meat. Until I told him someone on here had mentioned making rabbit jerky. Then he decided to marinade some over night. He just got done baking it.
And boy was it good.

Yes we ate it already.

I definitely recommend rabbit jerky.

250 for 30 minutes and 150 for an additional 3 hours, marinade in soy sauce, vinegar, banana peppers, pepper and mustard seed. Yummy!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I told him someone on here had mentioned making rabbit jerky.

That would be me!

I have a complex recipe I devised for beef jerky, but for the rabbit belly flaps I just used a Teriyaki marinade/dressing with added garlic and pepper.

Yes we ate it already.

That is a bit of a problem... most of ours doesn't even get dried all the way before it is eaten. The kids and Hubs are already wondering what other parts of the rabbits we could use for jerky! It is like bacon with the pigs- the jerky and bacon get eaten first!

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Yes it was delicious. Thank you so much for the idea. I just love how much use we can get out of one rabbit.

 

[GBov]

I made a quick version of teriyaki and soaked five rabbit bellies in it for about an hour and then dried them in a 200 degree oven...............

Even with the sauce being a bit not quite right the bits of belly never even got a chance to be all the way dried.

OMG that is one fine way to fix rabbit!

So am going to pick up some proper teriyaki this weekend and see how leg meat, instead of belly, does as jerky.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

WE have about 23 rabbits headed to FC and so we will have rabbit jerkey shortly. It is some good stuff thats for sure.

 

[Stormy]

Thanks MamaSheepDog- I also saw that post and made jerky out of the bellyflaps! awesome!! But I can't do soy based marinades and only had some red wine for sauce - I soaked it overnight in that plus spices... and put in the dehydrator for a day or so and it dried right out. Chewy, but super yummy! All the bellyflaps go that way now
Does cooking them make them easier to chew? Or is chewy just inherent in the bellyflap?

 

[MaggieJ]

The belly flaps are chewy, no matter what you do with them. When you figure that they are holding in all the internal organs, it is not surprising. They are the same part of the animal as flank steak is on beef. Now that I come to think of it, you rarely see flank steak anymore... and when you do it is pricey. I can remember when it was a cheap cut... and so good.

 

[GBov]

The belly flaps are chewy, no matter what you do with them. When you figure that they are holding in all the internal organs, it is not surprising. They are the same part of the animal as flank steak is on beef. Now that I come to think of it, you rarely see flank steak anymore... and when you do it is pricey. I can remember when it was a cheap cut... and so good.

That is practically all of the cuts we use to eat as kids! Have you SEEN the price of beef tongue or tail???

I have discovered a problem with rabbit belly jerky.......................

Rabbits only have a tiny belly and my kids want it AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL :lol:

 

[Stormy]

Flank steak is so good!! yes, oxtail costs so much $$ now and it used to be the part they threw away! Ridiculous.

Has anyone made jerky out of other parts of the rabbit? I agree - not enough!!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

They are the same part of the animal as flank steak is on beef.

We always use flank steak for beef jerky.

Has anyone made jerky out of other parts of the rabbit?

Not yet... but I'm sure it would be good. When we used flank steak, we would slice it thin when it was partially frozen. It is too difficult when it is thawed, so I would debone the portion of rabbit being used and slice it in a partially frozen state.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

My husband just made belly jerky from all the ones sent to fc last week. And of course........

ATE IT ALL HIMSELF!!!!

I didn't even get one piece. Not one!!! But he said it was great as usually.

I did make a rabbit stew and a rabbit roast in the last week. Both turned out amazing in our electric roaster. I want to do rabbit deboned in an alfredo with pasta yet this week. Maybe tomorrow Ill pick up the stuff while in town for rabbit feed. They are finally getting my manna Pro SHO in.

 

[MaggieJ]

TM, when you debone the rabbit, be sure to save those bones for stock. What I usually do is debone the hind legs and loins and add the bones to the complete rib section and front legs. I cooked these parts of three rabbits the other day and made a huge pot of rabbit vegetable soup and had enough meat left over for a rabbit and rice casserole.

 

[Stormy]

Great suggestions, Maggie! We are fast needing new approaches to cooking rabbit and this helps

 

[GBov]

I tried cutting bits of meat for jerky but they were just too small and fiddly to work with so we just stir fried them instead.

Shall try deboning a few back legs next time.

 

[mystang89]

lol, its 10:45pm here and im trying to get tired enough to go to sleep. I look at this thread and now my mouth is watering for rabbit jerky. So much for sleep.

 

[SelfFueled]

This is like icing on the cake.

Glad to have found this thread when just starting with my rabbits.
Only a few more weeks or more until FC tryouts.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

12 went to FC last night. Looks like its jerkey time again. Im thinking rabbit Mongolian bbq for dinner tonight. Rabbit mushroom gravy and noodles tomorrow. Sloppy hoppies for lunch maybe as well. And rabbit stew when we get back from Illinois.

 

[Stormy]

I can't stop chuckling over "Freezer Camp tryouts"... that is so WRONG!!

Has anyone tried making jerky with Mesquite seasonings? I'm thinking of ordering some.

Trick for more jerky to yourself: I discovered my partner was turned off from trying some when I said it was like rabbit chewing gum - you just chew and chew. I found out he wasn't eating it at all and that means ALL of it is for ME!!! YUMM!!!

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Nice. But that would never work with my Husband. He lives on protein and shakes. Add a monstrous handful of vitamins and he calls it a well balanced meal. If it is meat he is eating it. lol

 

[Ole Mule]

Have you tried de-bone the rabbit grind the meat and make jerky out of all the ground meat. I grind deer meat to make jerky.