Recipe copyright 2000, Mario Batali. All rights reserved.

1 (4 1/2 pound) rabbit, head, tail and feet removed, gutted, liver reserved, and boned (have your butcher remove all of the bones from the rabbit for you)
1/2 cup lardo, or fat back
1/2 bulb fennel, cored and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 links Italian sausage, removed from its casings
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup dry white wine
1 lemon, juiced
Coarse salt
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Season the inside and outside of the rabbit with pepper, and set aside.

In a 12 to 14-inch saute pan heat 4 tablespoons of the lardo until smoking. Add the fennel and the garlic and cook over medium heat until softened and light brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the sausage and cook about 6 to 8 more minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Stuff the rabbit cavity with the fennel, garlic, and the remaining lardo, cut into 1/8-inch dice. Truss the rabbit to seal the openings and place in a casserole. Baste with the wine and lemon juice, and sprinkle with the coarse salt.

Cook in the oven for 1 hour, turning once after 30 minutes of cooking, and occasionally basting with the pan juices. Remove from the oven, allow to sit 5 minutes. Serve in 1/2-inch slices with pan juices emulsified with extra-virgin olive oil.

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 25 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy