Goose

[OctoblocksAssemble]

Thinking of giving it a go, but no idea where to order from. Not getting anywhere with the supermarkets. I do not have a local butcher or any such convenience, and the Internet can be a bit of a minefield...
Anyone able to recommend a trusted purveyor of geese?

I can’t believe anyone would use veg oil instead of goose fat for roasties given you have it on tap! Chicken gravy is an odd adjustment too. Do you not make your gravy in the pan after roasting? Sometimes MN makes me feel ancient. I basically cook pretty much the roast my great grandmother would have.

Goose is my very favourite. For over 10 years we got ours in the Christmas order from Marks. None for the last 2 years. Tried Waitrose last year but then we got an email saying it was no longer available.
We've got a couple of good local butchers so we're going to try there.

Just too much goose fat. Whilst Turkey is way too dry even after 12hrs brine dip, Goose is way too greasy. So oil it is, Rapeseed so you can have a hot oven.
Just different views, thats all.

Love goose for Christmas....always have it with red cabbage, roasties and prunes in Armagnac (Delia Smith recipe). Put harvested fat in mason jars in fridge and lasts for ages.

Only too greasy like any oil, if you cook it too cool. The reason goosefat can be bought in jars at Christmas is it makes vastly superior crispy spuds. Fried in oil is just a large chip.

It's very nice. We got one from tesco a few years ago

I love goose, we used to get ours from the local rugby club, farmer was a member and we got special prices.
Sorry no help but it's worth tracking down

Goose fat has a smoke point of 190 Deg C, and Rapeseed 230 Deg C. Corn Oil even hotter at 250 Deg C
So crispier Roasties. But that is not my point, fat upon fat upon fat will make you look like a teenager with zits.

fat upon fat upon fat will make you look like a teenager with zits. not me sadly I’m more old prune, but I don’t think acne works that way anyway.

I second the Gordon's Christmas Goose recipe, it's delicious.

This thread has reminded me to order mine for this year.

I much prefer it to turkey which seems to be never ending.

I get organic goose from a local butcher, but tbh would be perfectly happy with non-organic or frozen if I didn’t have that option.

This thread is really making me want roast goose now! It’s so much nicer than the carpet underlay that is turkey meat.

So you have to decant fat? It’s no big deal and you get loads of goose fat for cooking. And I’ve never heard of cooking goose legs separate from the bird. Is that an oven size thing?

I usually get mine from tescos - but only instore, they didnt have them online. Farm foods do one too, we had it once but it wasnt nice. I am sticking with Tesco

This, together with the fact that one goose barely fed two adults and two children. There's hardly any meat on them.

I'm astonished at those saying it's a pain and you need to do crazy things like cook the legs separately. We have had goose for the last few years and one of the reason is I find it needs much less attention than a turkey. We buy from a local farm shop usually but last year when we left it too late bought online and very pleased. What you do need to do is pour off the fat a few times during cooking. Then you can put it in the fridge or freezer and use for your roast potatoes for the rest of the year! As with everything, consult Nigella for ideas of how to cook/how long etc.

The quality of goose varies massively. I had one from farm foods one year and there was hardly any meat and it was all fat. The Tesco Gressingham farm one was much better quality and feeds about 4 people. If I could afford a farm shop/organic one I would get it. Goose meat is gorgeous. I put salt, pepper and plum jam on mine to roast it and baste it regulariliy (adding another coating of jam about 15 minutes before end of cooking). As it is moist meat, you dont need to rest it for 2 hours like a turkey, it can rest about 45 minutes and its perfect.
I also have stuffed pousin and all the trimmings

Steady on! That delicious spread, goose and all, looks like it might have quite a few calories in it. And there’s booze!

And where’s the massive salad?

You’ll be drummed off MN by the food and drink faddists.

We had a goose- opinions were divided. There wasn't much meat and it was a love/hate thing. But the lentil soup I made with the carcass was utterly amazing. Worth it for the soup alone!

That sound lovely

He he he 😂
Its only once a year 🍾
I have NO shame 😜

Ballet mum, what did you do with the poussin?

I am a goose fan and have ordered one for Xmas this year, now it looks like I am going to be unexpectedly hosting my mother who will moan about the lack of turkey so this could be an option for me I reckon.

Just make a bog standard stuffing and mix in orange zest and dried cranberries. I stuff the cavity. Then smother with butsalf and pepper and roast for 45 minutes. Nice and simple, but still Christmasy

We had goose a couple of years ago as we had always fancied giving it a go.

We got ours from the local fish shop, which I know sounds weird but they also sell game and supply local turkeys and Geese at Christmas.

Well it was interesting to try once but I really won't bother again. More expensive for a start. Meat OK but nothing fantastic and nowhere near as many left overs.

The only really good thing was lots of goose fat to do our toasties in for weeks afterwards. However, you can buy goose fat in the supermarket. I will be sticking with turkey.

I have acquired a goose from Lidl! Dd is hugely excited. I will be examining the recipe links upthread, thanks everyone 😀

We’ve had hose for 30 years but it’s getting harder to find in supermarkets. We have had the Lidl glfeoxen one a couple of times. It’s not bad and smaller than the one we would normally get in Waitrose. We always render the fat for the roasties. This year I’m getting a large duck and a shoulder of suckling pig.

The stock you can make is spectacular. I still remember the lentil soup.....