FEATURE RECIPE
Rabbit with leatherwood honey, saffron and celery

Rabbit with leatherwood honey, saffron and celery

The single-pot cooking method allows flavours to blend, so the rabbit, celery and chickpeas in this dish absorb the saffron and are sweetened by the distinct flavour of leatherwood honey. You’ll need to begin this recipe a day ahead.

Serves 6

Cooking Time Prep time 15 mins, cook 1 hr 45 mins (plus soaking)



1½ tbsp   olive oil
1   rabbit (about 1.4kg), cut into 8 pieces
1   onion, thinly sliced
750 ml   (3 cups) chicken stock
200 gm   (1 cup) dried chickpeas, soaked overnight in cold water, drained
1 tbsp   leatherwood honey
½ tsp   saffron threads, soaked in 1 tbsp warm water
3   celery stalks, cut into 5cm lengths


1 Preheat oven to 150C. Heat oil in a large flameproof casserole over medium heat. Add rabbit and sauté, turning often until golden brown (3-4 minutes). Transfer to a plate and set aside. Add onion to casserole and cook over low heat until just starting to caramelise (8-10 minutes). Add stock, chickpeas, honey, saffron and its liquid and rabbit, increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Cover, transfer to oven and cook for 1 hour. Add celery and cook until celery is tender (25-30 minutes).
2 Divide rabbit among plates, ladle over celery, chickpeas and braising liquid and serve.


Drink Suggestion Viognier.

RECIPE Rodney Dunn PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Dearnley STYLING Rodney Dunn and Elodie Rambaud DRINK SUGGESTION Max Allen

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