Ballotine of Hare Leg with Grilled Melon

Preparation

Bone the thighs, cut into four portions and flatten to make as thin as possible. Fill with any meat trimmings, the foie gras, 200 g / 7 oz of chopped melon, egg yolks and breadcrumbs. Using plastic wrap, form each thigh into a ball shape. Place in a vacuum pack with the port and a little oil. Bake for 4 hours at 80ºC / 176ºF. When cooked, remove from the bag, drain and brown in the oven for 15 minutes with oil. Meanwhile, reduce the cooking juices from the vacuum pack.

Grilled melon
Cut the melon into small dice. Dip in sugar and grill.

Spanish recipe: Ballotine of hare leg with grilled melon. Photo by: Toya Legido/©ICEX.

Presentation

Serve the hare leg ballotine at the center of the dish and add the port reduction and the blood. To one side, serve the grilled melon and decorate the dish with aromatic herbs and flower petals.

Nutritional Facts

Chef's Remark:

"The constant activity of the hare enables it to develop strong leg muscles, making the thighs the most aromatic and flavorsome part. But a good marinade is needed and as much blood as possible should be collected so that the dish can be properly finished."

Preparation by: César Ráez

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Time

Approximately 4 hours

2 hare thighs
50 gr fresh foie gras
200 gr melon
2 egg yolks
1 tbs white breadcrumbs
100 ml Spanish extra virgin olive oil
200 ml cups of port
Salt and pepper
200 gr melon
50 gr sugar
100 ml hare's blood

2 hare thighs
1.764 oz fresh foie gras
7.055 oz melon
2 egg yolks
1 tbs white breadcrumbs
3.645 fl. oz Spanish extra virgin olive oil
7.164 fl. oz cups of port
Salt and pepper
7.055 oz melon
1.764 oz sugar
3.645 fl. oz hare's blood

2 hare thighs
0.26 cup fresh foie gras
0.95 cup melon
2 egg yolks
1 tbs white breadcrumbs
0.423 cup Spanish extra virgin olive oil
0.845 cup cups of port
Salt and pepper
0.95 cup melon
0.26 cup sugar
0.423 cup hare's blood

Wine match

Antonio Garzón

Cuatro Pasos 2007 (DO Bierzo), by Bodegas Martín Códax. This wine is aged in the barrel for just two months. It has an intense aroma of red berries and wood and the flavor is mild and pleasant, making it an excellent partner for any type of game.