Christmas Goose Recipes

Steps:

• Calculate the cooking time: cook for 10 mins at 240C/fan 220C/gas 9, then reduce to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and cook for 20 mins per kg for medium-rare, 32 mins per kg for more well done, plus 30 mins resting.
• If the goose is ready-trussed, then loosen the string and pull out the legs and wings a little - this helps the bird cook better.
• Check the inside of the bird and remove any giblets or pads of fat. Using the tip of a sharp knife, lightly score the breast and leg skin in a criss-cross. This helps the fat to render down more quickly during roasting.
• Grate the zest from 4 lemons and 3 limes. Mix with 2 tsp fine sea salt, 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder and pepper, to taste.
• Season the cavity of the goose generously with salt, then rub the citrus mix well into the skin and sprinkle some inside the cavity.
• Stuff the zested fruit and a small handful of parsley, thyme and sage sprigs inside the bird and set aside for at least 15 mins. Can be done up to a day ahead and kept refrigerated.
• Heat oven to 240C/fan 220C/gas 9.
• If you want to give the bird a nice golden skin, brown in a large frying pan (or a heavy-based roasting tin), using a couple of tbsp olive oil. Holding the bird by the legs (you may like to use an oven glove), press it down on the breasts to brown.
• Once browned, place the bird in the roasting tin. Drizzle with 3 tbsp clear honey and sprinkle with 1 tbsp thyme leaves.
• Roast for the calculated time, turning the heat down after 10 mins to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Cover the goose with foil if it is starting to brown too much.
• Every 30 mins or so, baste the bird with the pan juices, then pour off the fat through a sieve into a large heatproof bowl. You will end up with at least a litre of luscious fat - save this for the potatoes and other veg.
• At the end of the cooking time, leave to rest for at least 30 mins, covered loosely with foil. The bird will not go cold, but will be moist and much easier to carve.

Steps:

• If goose is frozen, place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Remove goose from the refrigerator, and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse goose inside and out with cold running water, and pat it dry with paper towels. Trim as much of the excess fat as possible from the opening of the cavity. Remove the first and second joints of the wings, and set them aside for use in making the stock.
• With the point of a sharp knife, prick the entire surface of the goose skin, being careful not to cut into the flesh. Fold the neck flap under the body of the goose, and pin the flap down with a wooden toothpick. Generously sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper, and insert 2 carrot halves, 2 celery-stalk halves, garlic, thyme, and sage. Using a piece of kitchen twine, tie the legs together. Generously sprinkle the outside of the goose with salt and pepper, and place it, breast-side up on a wire rack set in a large roasting pan.
• Roast goose in the oven until it turns a golden brown, about 1 hour. With a baster, remove as much fat as possible from the roasting pan every 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees, and roast until the goose is very well browned all over and an instant-read thermometer inserted into a breast, not touching a bone, registers 180 degrees, about 1 hour after reducing the temperature.
• Meanwhile, prepare goose stock, which will be used when making the gravy and the dressing. Trim and discard any excess fat from the wing tips, neck, and giblets, and place them in a small stockpot. Add 4 carrot halves, 4 celery-stalk halves, both onion halves, parsley, bay leaf, peppercorns, and enough water to cover the bones and vegetables by 1 inch (about 2 1/2 quarts water). Place the stockpot over high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer stock, skimming the scum as it forms, for 2 hours. Strain stock through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Remove and discard the fat floating on the surface of the stock, and set the stockpot aside.
• Remove goose from the oven, and transfer it to a cutting board that has a well. Let the goose stand 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the gravy. Pour off all the fat from the roasting pan, and place the pan over high heat. Pour in wine, and cook, stirring up any brown bits with a wooden spoon until the cooking liquid is reduced by three-quarters. Add 2 cups goose stock, and cook, stirring until the liquid is again reduced by three-quarters. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in butter, and cook until slightly thickened. Pass the gravy through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a gravy boat, and serve with the goose.

Steps:

• Sprinkle the goose cavity with salt and pepper. Place the apple, orange and lemon in the cavity. Place goose breast side up on a rack in a large shallow roasting pan. Prick skin well with a fork. Pour water into pan. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 2-1/4 to 3 hours or until a thermometer reads 180°. If necessary, drain fat from pan as it accumulates. Cover goose with foil and let stand for 20 minutes before carving. Discard fruit.

Steps:

• Remove excess fat from goose cavity. Cut off the wing tips. Rub the goose with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Tie the legs together. Prick the skin of the goose all over lightly (without piercing the flesh underneath) with a skewer or darning needle. This will help the fat escape.
• Place the goose, breast up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour in a couple of inches of water. Cover the pan and bring to a boil on top of the stove. Turn down the heat and steam the goose for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on its size. If the water boils off, add a little more hot water.
• Make the stock. Simmer the gizzard, heart, neck and wing tips with the onion, carrot, celery and herb bouquet in lightly salted water to cover for two hours. Strain and put in the freezer while the goose roasts (this will help solidify the fat quickly and it can be easily removed).
• Remove the goose from the steamer and cool it. Save the liquid from the roaster. Stuff the goose (see below).
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the goose, breast down, on a roasting rack and place the stock vegetables around the goose with the white wine and a cup of goose-steaming liquid. Cover and braise for an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the weight of the goose. Baste from time to time, and if necessary, add more steaming liquid.
• Turn the goose breast up and brown it for 30 minutes, uncovered. Put it on a serving platter and let it rest in the oven with the door open.
• Make the sauce. Pour the fat from the roasting pan and stir in the cornstarch, blending it first to a smooth paste with a little water. Cook for two minutes, scraping up the juices, then add the port. Bring to a boil and add the stock. Stir well and simmer until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the spoon (about five minutes). Stir in the red currant jelly and add a little lemon juice if necessary. Correct seasoning and serve in a heated sauceboat, sprinkled with parsley.

Steps:

• Wash goose inside and out with hot water and dry carefully. Rub inside with salt. Combine apples and prunes and stuff goose. Truss and tie legs loosely to the tail. Place goose on rack in roasting pan. Roast in 425°F. oven for 30 minutes. Remove goose and turn heat down to 350°F. Drain all fat from pan. Sprinkle goose with a little of the flour. Return goose to oven.
• Combine butter and hot water. When the flour on the goose has begun to brown, start basting with water-butter liquid. Sprinkle a little more flour on the goose after each basting; this helps absorb fat. Baste frequently. Roast for about 16-20 minutes per pound, depending on age of the bird, timing from the moment the goose goes in the oven. If goose os very fat, drain off fat several times during roasting. After the first hour, turn the bird every half hour, roasting the goose on its back for the last 15 minutes. Test for doneness by moving legs up and down; they should move easily. Place goose on heated platter. Surround with thick slices of fried apple. Place a plumped pitted prune on each apple slice. Serve with red cabbage and sugar-browned potatoes.

Steps:

• Wild Canada geese have little or no fat, as do most wild birds. Because of this lack of natural basting liquid, some wild fowl tends to dry out while cooking. This recipe will help assure the cook of no accidents and help keep the meat moist and tender.In this recipe you are essentially poaching the bird, i.e. roasting it upside-down in liquid with finely chopped vegetables. Wild goose is naturally very dark, nearly indistinguishable from roast beef after it is sliced.You may want to add potatoes, onions and firm vegetables to the roasting pan about 45 minutes before the bird is finished. They will not only add flavor to the sauce and the bird but will save you time by allowing the entire meal to finish together.
• You may substitute wild turkey, also a lean bird, in place of wild goose.
• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium-low heat.
• Add the carrots, celery, onions, apple and garlic.
• Sauté for 8-10 minutes. Add the stock, wine, parsley, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
• Turn up the heat and bring to a boil for about 1 minute.
• Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 6-8 minutes.
• Pour the vegetables and liquid into a large roasting pan fitted with a lid. Turn the bird breast-side down and nestle into the vegetables and liquid. Spoon some of the liquid and vegetables over the goose and add more water (or wine if you like) to submerse the bird half-way.
• Cover and roast about 1 1/4 hours.
• Turn the bird over, facing up, and cook another 15 minutes, uncovered or until a meat thermometer registers 160 degrees F when inserted next to the leg bone.
• Remove and let the bird sit for about 10 minutes before carving.
• Spoon some of the juice and vegetables over each portion of sliced meat and potatoes.
• Wine Recommendation.
• The dark and heavy nature of wild goose meat needs to be enjoyed with a solid, bold, red. A syrah drinks beautifully with this meal, perhaps the Qupé vineyard from the central California coast. This wine is produced and bottled by Robert Lindquist; a reasonably priced wine and a good value.