Unconventional Carnitas de Conejo (rabbit)

 

Get out your stock pot and add the following ingredients.

1 Conejo (rabbit) (you do not need to debone if you want to save some time, the cooking process will have the meat just falling off the bone.)
1 large can broth or homemade broth about 6 cups (preferably Conejo broth or Chicken broth) The broth should come close to covering the entire rabbit.
1 can beer (any kind it doesn’t matter well, actually Guiness is not a good choice, but you wouldn’t want to waste a Guiness would you)
1 shot tequila
(if the rabbit is not completely covered with liquid either add more broth, more beer or just plain water)
1 large onion quartered
1 healthy handful of fresh cilantro or dried if you don’t have fresh on hand.
Garlic cloves peeled (I love garlic I usually put in about 8 cloves but you can adjust it to your taste)
Dash of Kosher Salt.
3 Bay leaves

Bring to rolling boil then turn down to medium boil and let cook for 2 – 3 hours depending on size of rabbit.

At about 2 hours check the meat with a set of tongs, if it comes off easily, let it go for another 10 minutes.

Get out a large baking dish, preheat oven to 350

Strain the rabbit from the broth, reserving ¼ cup of broth. (You can use a colander and save the broth for something else or put it over your dog’s food – they love it…I guarantee it)

Start picking off the meat and putting it in the baking dish, be careful not to bring over any bones. Pick out the bay leaves and throw them in the compost. Try to get rid of the onions and garlic, but if it’s too much trouble just put them in the baking dish too smooshing them up with the tongs as you toss it with the meat.

When you have put all the meat into the baking dish, add your ¼ cup of broth to the meat and place in the oven for 25 minutes. This will give a light crunch to the top of the meat.

While the meat is baking,

Chop the following fresh veggies:
Onions
Cilantro
Tomato

, grate some cheese (preferably jack)

Warm corn tortillas on the grill, and place in tortilla warmer. I am not a big fan of deep fried taco shells or those cardboard preformed taco shells you buy at the store, the deep fried is bad for you and the preformed taco shells just scare me-I hear they’re made from genetically engineered corn – I am suspicious of genetically engineered)

Serving suggestion:
Rice and Beans

Garnish with
A dollop of sour cream
Guacamole (see recipe)