Breaded Saddle of Rabbit with Almonds and Mustard
Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless saddle of rabbit, cut into 12 medallions and pounded into
1/4-inch-thick scaloppine with a mallet
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup almonds (preferably with the skin on)
2 extra-large eggs
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 sage leaves
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Preparation:

Place the rabbit on a plate, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, cover, and refrigerate 1 hour. Grind the almonds in a food processor until they are smaller than peas but not powdery. Spread out on a platter.

Beat the eggs with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt on one plate. Place the breadcrumbs on a second plate. Dredge the rabbit in the eggs, coating both sides, then in the bread crumbs, again coating both sides.

Heat the olive oil with the sage in a 12-inch skillet until it is nearly smoking. Add 6 of the rabbit medallions and cook over medium heat until golden on both sides, turning once, about 2 minutes per side.

Remove the rabbit to the platter with the almonds and cover with foil to keep warm. Cook the remaining 6 rabbit medallions in the same manner in the olive oil left in the skillet; remove to the platter and serve hot, passing the mustard and lemon at the table. (Micol Negrin, Rustico Regional Italian Country Cooking, 2002)