A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (2024)

In medieval England just as in much of Europe, roast goose was atraditional food not just for Christmas, but for celebrations of allkind - until the turkey arrived from the New World and took over. Even now, roast goose is still the most common Christmas dinner inGermany, and I grew up loving the rich and moist and flavoursome taste.

When I first came to England, goose was rather uncommon, but it'sgreat to see that this wonderful bird is now more widely available andis making a comeback on the Christmas dinner table. I definitely preferit to turkey, which I find too dry and bland a meat to get excitedabout.



A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (1)

Choosing a Christmas goose has other advantages too:

A good-sized goose will feed 6 people, maybe eight, but there won't be much left over. And because of its richness, ending up with dried out meat when cooking a goose really takes some doing. Roasting goose also produces a versatile and extremely tasty by-product: goose fat. Try roasting potatoes (or onions!) in the rich goo and you'll know why I rave about the wonderful taste.

And while Christmas Day is the big reveal for the roast goose, the giblets used to grace our Christmas Eve lunch. They make the most wonderful base for noodle soup. And goose liver, of course, is well known to anyone who loves pate.

Baked apples would have been offered alongside the roast goose in many a traditional roast goose recipe, but stuffing a goose with apples, breadcrumbs and oranges, and serving it with red cabbage and pineapple also makes for a very fine dinner. Don't you agree?

A Roast Goose Recipe with Apple and Orange Stuffing

This roast goose recipe should feed 6-8 people and you need:

  • 1 goose, approx. 3.5kg - 4.5kg (8-10lb)
  • 750 g / 1 1/2 lb Bramley apples (or other cooking apples)
  • 175g / 6oz fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 2 oranges
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp fresh sage
  • 1 slice of bread
  • salt and pepper

A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (2)A roast goose recipe with apple and orange stuffing
© Maxim Shebeko | depositphotos.com

Preparing the Stuffing

So, let's get underway with our roast goose recipe. First, you'll need to prepare your stuffing and you start with the apples.

Core and peel the Bramleys and cut them into smallish pieces. Thencook them in a little water until they're a rough puree. Over low heat,so the apples don't burn, this will take about 10-15 mintues.

In a bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the grated rind from the twooranges. Then peel the oranges, chop the flesh and add to thebreadcrumbs and rind. Add the apples and chopped onions.

Mix together carefully, then add the herbs and season generously

Preparing the Goose

A goose has a generous layer of fat, not all of which you want to eatas part of your roast. So here is what my mum used to do to make surethe goose was not too rich, and we had lots fo wonderful goosefat forcooking with during the following weeks:

Put the goose on a trivet in the sink and boil a large kettle ofwater. Then slowly pour the water all over the goose. Turn the goose, soall parts of it get sluiced down by boiling water, as this loosens thefat the goose has just under the skin.

Remove the goose from the sink and pat it dry with kitchen paper. Then let it dry out for an hour or so in the fridge.



A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (3)

Silver Viking Culinary Roaster/Roasting Pan, 16 x 13 x 3 inches


A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (4)

Grey Circulon Nonstick Roasting Pan / Roaster with Rack, 17 x 13 inches


A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (5)

Stainless Steel Rorence Roasting Pan with Rack, 16 x 13 inches

While the goose is in the oven, it will release a lot of fat. It'simportant to keep the goose separate from the fat so a roasting pan witha rack is essential. This allows the goose to sit above the pan whileit cooks, while the goose fat accumulates in the bottom of the pan.


Stuffing and Cooking the Goose

A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (6)Roast Goose © zebratomato | 123RF.com

This is where many roast goose recipes begin to differ. Some suggest you just add lemon slices or apple quarters to the body of the goose, while others add stuffing. Here we'll go with the stuffing we prepared earlier:

Stuff the goose loosely with the apple and orange mix you prepared earlier, and use the remaining slice of bread to cover the opening.

Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas 4 and when you're ready, place the goose on a rack above your roasting tin. Don't roast directly in the tin - you want somewhere to collect all the wonderful fat your goose releases while cooking!

Cook for 15-18mins per 450g / 1lb. The skin of the goose will be a dark golden brown when it's cooked and when you insert a skewer into the thickest part of the leg, the juice running out will be clear.

Remove the goose carefully from the oven. THE FAT WILL BE VERY, VERY HOT! Place the goose on a warm plate to rest and pour the fat into sealable jars to cool before storing.

My favourite roast goose recipe matches the goose with mashed potatoes, red cabbage and pineapple, and wonderfully tangy Cumberland Sauce. Though baked apples and herby dumplings are nice, too.


Other Essentially England Christmas Food Pages...

Bread Sauce

Cranberry Sauce

Cumberland Sauce

Chestnut Soup

Brussels Sprouts

Roast Goose

Yule Log

Mulled Wine

Christmas Pudding

Yorkshire Pudding

Mince Pies

Mincemeat



If you'd like to look up things as tasty as our roast goose recipe, why not check out the recipes section?

A Roast Goose Recipe fit for the Christmas Table (2024)

FAQs

How many people does a roast goose feed? ›

Choose goose of weight you need - 4.5kg (10lb) goose will feed 6-8 people, 6kg (13lb) goose 8-10 people. 2. Make sure the oven and roasting tin will accommodate the bird.

How long should a goose be cooked for? ›

After the goose has roasted for 2 hours total, reduce oven to 275 and continue roasting approximately 30 to 45 minutes, about 15 minutes per pound total, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees at the center of the breast.

Why pour boiling water over goose before roasting? ›

SAVE THE FAT

Prick the skin, pour over boiling water and cook covered in foil initially to allow the fat to be released into the roasting tray. Save the fat for roasting potatoes and cook the goose uncovered for the last 30 mins or so to crisp up.

Is goose good for Christmas dinner? ›

Charles Dickens raved about it for a reason! Roast goose isn't as popular as turkey for the Christmas feast - supermarkets sell just a few thousand geese per one million turkeys - but it's really worth considering if you fancy a change. It is truly delicious!

What size goose for 10 people? ›

Suggested servings per goose
WeightSizeFeeds no. of persons
4 – 4.99Small4
5 – 5.99Medium6
6 – 6.99Large8
7 – 7.99Extra large if available10

What size goose for 4 people? ›

Goose weights and cooking times
SizeWeightFeeds 2
Small4.5kg4
Medium5kg6
Large5.5kg6 - 8
Extra large6kg+8 - 10

How much goose per person? ›

When buying whole duck or goose, allow about one to 1 1/2 pounds of raw weight per person.

What temperature should goose be cooked at? ›

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer. A whole duck or goose must reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the bird. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

Why was my roast goose tough? ›

Like duck, it's also a red-meat bird and goose breast is meant to be cooked medium-rare. You'll want to watch the cooking closely, the overcooked goose isn't like overcooked chicken or turkey. Instead of turning dry and stringy, it will become tough and chewy and taste like liver.

What are 3 considerations when roasting a goose? ›

Method
  • Bring the goose to room temperature: ...
  • Remove the neck, giblets, and wing tips: ...
  • Remove the excess fat: ...
  • Prick the goose's skin all over with a needle: ...
  • Season the goose and place in the oven: ...
  • Start the gravy: ...
  • Add root vegetables to the roasting pan: ...
  • Carve out the breasts:

What food goes well with goose? ›

Goose Side Dishes Inspiration

Goose's natural pairing is with something acidic to cut through its fattiness. So, think acidic fruits like apples, cherries or citrus. Cherries can make delightful sauce that adds brightness to rich goose meat.

Should you wash a goose before cooking? ›

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.

Why did we stop eating goose at Christmas? ›

But because geese are more expensive and difficult to raise, other meats were deemed more acceptable to serve during the holidays as time went on.

Who eats goose for Christmas dinner? ›

Christmas Tradition: Weihnachtsgans. The rest of the world waxes poetic about Christmas goose. Germans actually eat it, anchoring the Christmas table with a golden brown Gänsebraten that would make Dickens proud. Sure, duck is widely popular and perhaps even more common.

What to serve with roast goose at Christmas? ›

Root Vegetable Pan Roast with Chestnuts and Apples

This complexly favorful side dish is seasoned with thyme and sweetened with syrup. Roasted potatoes, apples, and chestnuts are customary holiday season ingredients throughout many European countries.

How much goose for 7 people? ›

When buying whole duck or goose, allow about one to 1 1/2 pounds of raw weight per person. Raw boneless meat yields about three servings per pound after cooking. Estimate three to four-ounces per person for fully cooked products.

How much goose for 5 people? ›

A turkey will feed more mouths – that's why Scrooge bought the Cratchit family one – but so long as you're not feeding a small army of relatives then goose is deliciously different (a 10lb/4.5kg goose will feed five or six).

How many people will a 8 lb goose feed? ›

This roast goose recipe should feed 6-8 people and you need: 1 goose, approx. 3.5kg - 4.5kg (8-10lb) 750 g / 1 1/2 lb Bramley apples (or other cooking apples)

How many people will a 9lb goose feed? ›

A 9-pound bird (which feeds 6 to 8 people), put into the oven un-stuffed and at room temperature, will take about 2 hours to cook. A 12-1/2 pound goose (which feeds 12 to 14 people) that's un-stuffed takes 2 hours and 30 to 40 minutes. Add 20 to 40 minutes if the bird is stuffed.

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