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Kouneli Stiffado or Moschari Stiffado

Kouneli Stiffado or Moschari Stiffado

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Kouneli Stiffado or Moschari Stiffado (also written stifado), is a Greek stew which is usually made with hare or beef.

rabbit kounelli stiffado image

However, domestic rabbits or veal are just as good for this dish. 

I have also created a recipe of Salmon Stiffado and snails stiffado, based on this recipe.

What is essential for a good kouneli stiffado or Moschari stiffado are lots of onions, preferably baby shallots but whole onions can also be used and this gives the meat and sauce a wonderful taste and sweetness.

In Cyprus no tomato is used and the stew is cooked with red wine and vinegar and spiced with cinnamon,  bay leaves and lots of peppercorns.

Moschari Stiffado and mashed potatoes image

Ingredients needed for stiffado

  • You will need some meat. This dish is usually made with hare or domestic rabbit or stewing beef or veal.
  • Shallots or onions and garlic.
  • Red dry wine and vinegar.
  • Tomatoes.
  • Spices: bay leaf, cinnamon, allspice berries, black peppercorns.

How to make stiffado

  • Wash and drain the meat.
  • Peel the onions.
  • In a sautéing pan heat the olive oil and sauté the meat on both sides. 
  • Remove to a platter and add the onions. 
  • Sauté until translucent and then add the meat back as well as the garlic.
  • Add the wine and cook for 2 – 3 minutes until alcohol evaporates.
  • Add the two types of vinegar, tomato, petimezi or honey as well as all the spices.
  • Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer; cover with the lid and cook, mixing regularly, until the meat is tender.  

How to serve stiffado

You can serve stiffado the traditional Greek way, with mashed potatoes, rice pilaf or Greek style fried potatoes.

Veal stiffado image

You can also serve it with Greek pasta, such as orzo (kritharaki) or hilopites (egg pasta).

kounelli stifado image

Kouneli Stiffado (Rabbit stew) or Moschari Stiffado (Veal or Beef)

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Kouneli or Moschari Stiffado (also written stifado), is a Greek stew which is usually made with hare but domestic rabbits are just as good for this dish 

Ingredients

  • 1 kilo rabbit (or 500 grams veal), cut into smaller pieces
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 kilo baby shallot onions
  • 2 whole cloves of garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups red dry wine
  • 2 cups ripe tomatoes, peeled and blended
  • 3 tbsp wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp petimezi (grape molasses) or honey
  • 2 bay leafs
  • 10 black peppercorns
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 - 4 allspice berries
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Wash and drain the meat. Cut it into smaller pieces.
  2. Peel the onions.
  3. In a sautéing pan heat the olive oil and sauté the meat on both sides  Remove to a platter and add the onions  
  4. Sauté until translucent and then add the meat back as well as the garlic.
  5. Add the wine and cook for 2 - 3 minutes until the alcohol evaporates.
  6. Add the two types of vinegar, tomato, petimezi or honey as well as all the spices.
  7. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer; cover with the lid and cook, mixing regularly, until the meat is tender. (If the meat is not tender, add some water and cook until it is tender soft).
  8. Serve with rice pilaf, fried potatoes or mashed potatoes.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 550Total Fat 46gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 32gCholesterol 161mgSodium 744mgCarbohydrates 65gFiber 13gSugar 31gProtein 52g

Did you make this recipe?

Tried this recipe? Tag me @ivyliac and use the hashtag #kopiaste!

You will find the recipe for the Rabbit Stiffado in my Cookbook “Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste!”.   The recipe with veal which follows is almost the same with a few minor differences.

Other related Recipes:

Moschari Kokkinisto

Salmon Stifado

Snails Stifado Saganaki

PIN FOR LATER

Collage Rabbit or Veal stiffado image

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,

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Meat and livestock – Charta New

Tuesday 2nd of August 2022

[…] Rabbit stifado stew – Image source […]

BILL

Friday 26th of July 2013

My mom always used rabbits for stew,with carrots,potatoes,and onions,in a sauce made from milk,flour, butter,and seasonings.

philiposs

Thursday 15th of July 2010

were is your receipe for sheftalia please send me it its my favorite dish many thanks philposs xx,,

ivyliac

Friday 16th of July 2010

This recipe and all my Cypriot recipes will be soon published in a cookbook.

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