Fenkata (Maltese Stewed Rabbit)

Name: Fenkata (Maltese Stewed Rabbit)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 115 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Malta
Ingredients: 1 whole rabbit, jointed; 4 cloves garlic, crushed; 1 cup red wine; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, chopped; 2 bay leaves; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 1 cup peas; 2 potatoes, cubed; Salt and pepper to taste

4 servings25 min prep90 min cookMedium Malta

♡ Sign in to save Print / Save as PDFPro

The Story Behind It

The Tale of Fenkata (Maltese Stewed Rabbit)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Fenkata, a feast centered on stewed or fried rabbit, has roots in Malta's history under the Knights of St. John, who reserved hunting rights largely for the nobility for centuries, making rabbit something of a restricted delicacy for ordinary Maltese. Once those restrictions eased, rabbit became a celebratory, communal dish, still eaten today at festive village gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

1 whole rabbit, jointed
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup red wine
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup peas
2 potatoes, cubed
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1Marinate rabbit pieces in red wine, garlic, and bay leaves for a few hours or overnight.
2Remove rabbit, reserving the marinade, and brown pieces in olive oil.
3Sauté onion in the same pot until softened.
4Stir in tomato paste, return the rabbit, and pour in the reserved marinade.
5Cover and simmer 1 to 1.5 hours until the rabbit is very tender.
6Add potatoes partway through and peas near the end.
7Season to taste and serve with crusty bread.

Want Cook Mode, your own recipe photos, and unlimited calculators?

Get Home Cooking Pro

Comments

Loading comments…