Rabbit stuffed with fennel and herbs, roasted porchetta-style from central Italy. This high protein mediterranean dish is a lean carnivore family dinner with bold, aromatic flavor.
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Pat the rabbit dry and lay it flat on a work surface.
Prepare the stuffing: sauté chopped fennel bulb, pancetta, and minced garlic in 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat until fragrant and fennel is softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in chopped rosemary, sage, and fennel seeds; cook 1 more minute.
Spread the stuffing mixture evenly across the interior of the rabbit. Season the meat with salt and black pepper.
Carefully roll the rabbit up porchetta-style and tie securely with kitchen twine at 2-inch intervals to hold in the stuffing.
Rub the outside with remaining olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place seam-side down on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast for 75–90 minutes, basting every 25 minutes and turning once for even browning. Remove when an internal temperature of 160°F is reached, rest 12 minutes, and slice to serve.