Christmas Goose
Christmas Goose
Ingredients
12 lb. goose
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 medium carrots, scrubbed and cut in half
3 stalks celery, cut in half
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
1 bunch fresh thyme sprigs
1 bunch fresh sage
1 medium onion, cut in half
8 sprigs flat-leaf fresh parsley
1 dried bay leaf
1 tsp. whole black peppercorns
1/2 cup white wine
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
Directions
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°F. 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 two carrot
halves, two 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
one hour. With a baster, remove as much fat as possible from the roasting pan
every 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325°F, 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 165° F per USDA recommendations, 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 four
carrot halves, four celery-stalk halves, both onion halves, parsley, bay leaf,
peppercorns, and enough water to cover the bones and vegetables by one 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 two 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 two 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.
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