In a hot casserole-type pan fry your rabbit in a little olive oil until golden brown then add your herbs, onions, garlic, carrot and celery. Turn the heat down and continue to fry for 5 minutes until the vegetables have softened. Add your red wine and continue to simmer until the liquid has almost cooked away but left you with a fantastic colour and fragrance.

Add the plum tomatoes, the pearl barley and just enough water to cover the meat by 1/2-inch/1cm. Make yourself a cartouche of greaseproof paper, wet it under the tap, rub it with a little olive oil and place it over the pan. Put a lid on the pan as well, as this will retain as much moisture as possible while cooking. Cook on a really low heat for about 2 to 3 hours. It's ready when you can literally push the meat off the bone and it will flake away in tender strands. At this point season carefully with salt and pepper, to taste, and allow to cool slightly before removing the meat from the pan. Using 2 forks, pull apart all the lovely pieces of meat, throwing away any skin and bones. Put the meat back in the pan on a low heat.

It's now ready to serve, so cook your pappardelle in a pan of boiling, salted water for 3 minutes, if using fresh pasta, and according to the packet instructions if using dried. Once it's cooked, drain it in a colander, saving some of the cooking liquid in case the sauce needs a little loosening. Remove the stewed rabbit from the heat and stir in the butter and Parmesan with a little of the cooking water – this will make it juicy and shiny. Toss together with your pasta and serve immediately.

(c) Jamie Oliver 2002