X’MAS MORNING SERIES: STUFFED GOOSE BEAST

X’MAS MORNING SERIES: STUFFED GOOSE BEAST

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Every Who
Down in Who-ville
Liked Christmas goose a lot…

But the Grinch,
Who lived just behind the screen of Who-ville,
Did NOT!

The Grinch hated Christmas goose!  The whole goose without season!
Now, please ask him why.  For everyone quite guesses the reason.
It could be that the work looked a bit like fright.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his ego was two sizes too small.

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But,
Whatever the reason,
His ego or the shoes,
He sat behind the screen on Christmas Eve, hating the goose
And every whos who couldn’t see,
That the Christmas goose beast should come with ease.

Staring down from his computer with an angry, Grinchy bitchin’
At the warm lighted oven inside everyone’s kitchen.
For he knew every Who down in Who-ville beneath
Was busy now, killing that damn christmas goose beast.

“They’re preparing their stuffings!”  he snarled with a sneer.
“Tomorrow’s Christmas!  It’s practically here!”
Then he bitched and cursed, with his Grinch keyboard nervously tapping,
“I MUST find a way to stop what everyone’s doing!”
For, tomorrow, he knew…

All the Whos, young and old, would sit down to the sad beast.
And they’d feast!  And they’d feast!
And they’d FEAST!  FEAST!  FEAST!  FEAST!
They would start on Who-skins, who-thighs and sawdust-Who-breast-meat,
Which was something the Grinch couldn’t stand in the least!

… Then the Who girls and boys
With their chaotic delights.  They’d rush for the table so freaking psyched!
But the Grinch knew the damn skin is flappy, he knew even without taking a bite.
And then!  Oh, the dry meat!  Oh, DRY!  DRY!  DRY!
That’s one thing he hated!  SO DRY DRY DRY DRY!

… THEN Every who would stand close together, with Christmas bells ringing
And the Whos would start on the plain goose stuffing!
They’d stuff!  And they’d stuff!
AND they’d STUFF!  STUFF!  STUFF!
And the more the Grinch thought of the Who-Christmas-goose,
The more the Grinch thought, “I must fix this whole thing!
“Why for thirty-three years I’ve put up with it now!
I MUST fix the christmas goose from ruining!
… But HOW?”

Then he got an idea!
An awful idea!
THE GRINCH
GOT AN BRILLIANT, AWFUL IDEA!

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To turn the christmas goose around,
The Grinch said, “Fuck this shit!”.  He closed his computer and let the sleigh started down
Toward the homes where the Whos
Lay a-snooze in their town.

All their windows were dark.  Quiet snow filled the air.
All the Whos were all dreaming sweet dreams without care.
Then he slid down the chimney.  Oh a rather smooth cinch.
He thought it must be hard for Santa, who’s got fat on every square inch.

Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Whos’ feast!
He took the Who-stuffing! He took the goose beast!
To make every who see, he thought he must make the roast such a breeze.
He turned up the oven low and slow,
With each minute his confidence grows.
He put the stuffing up the beast without a flinch.
Pinched, salted and basted the skin on every inch.

Then he tuck the whole goose in the oven with glee.
“And NOW!” grinned the Grinch, “All I have to do is wait in my sleep!”

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It was morning after dawn…
All the Whos, still a-bed
All the Whos, still a-snooze
The Grinch woke up to the goose, and slowly sipped on his christmas booze.

Look at this goose inside his low oven,
Browned up all around its glory!  The golden skin!  It’s shinning!
A beautiful goose!  With all its juice!  The drippings!  The moist stuffings!
He cooled the bird, wrapped it and hid it!
“Pooh-pooh to the Whos!” he was grinch-ish-ly exciting.
“They’re finding out soon that this goose is going to be surprising!
“In a few hours wait, I know just what they’ll do!
“Their mouths will start dripping a minute or two
“The all the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry YOO-HOO!”

For this year, the christmas goose is shiny and new.

So it happened on Christmas Eve in front of every whos,
“There’s a bird”  Grinned the Grinch
“that I simply must prepare for dinner!”
So he cranked up the oven for what was going to make him a winner.
All the who’s smelled an aroma rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow…
And the aroma wasn’t bad at all!
Why, this goose smelled tasty!
It couldn’t be so!
But their mouth were watery! VERY!

Every who’s stared down at the goose beast,
They popped their eyes!
Then they shook!
What they saw was a shocking surprise!
A roast goose so moist, with cracking skins so bright!

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Every who-guests, slim or fat
without any choices, all tipping their hats.
The Grinch did it.  He stopped Christmas GOOSE from ruining!
IT WAS STUNNING AS IT WAS INSANE!
Somehow or other, it didn’t come just the same!

But very soon their curiosity flowed, the secret to the goose they must know,
Stood asking and asking: “How could it be so?
It came without efforts! It came without drags!
But it came with moist meat, golden crispies and brags!”
And they puzzled `till their puzzlers were sore.
Then the Grinch told them something they hadn’t heard before!
“Maybe goose beast,” he whispered, “doesn’t have to be a chore.
“Maybe goose beast… perhaps… could be a whole lot more!”

And what happened then…?
Well… in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch’s small ego
Grew three sizes that day!
And with every minutes that passed by, every who simply couldn’t wait.
For the Grinch brought back the goose!  There’s just nothing the Grinch cannot do!

And he, with laughters in front of the christmas trees
and twinkling who-eyes on the feast…

…HE HIMSELF…!
The Grinch carved the goose beast!

Text edited from Dr. Suess’s:  How the Grinch Stole Christmas

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Servings:  4 ~ 6 depending

The goose-beast turned out… to be not so beastly after all, weighing at about 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) roughly which is considered quite small for a goose.  If your goose is more beastly say… around 10 ~ 12 lbs, double the recipe and add 3 hours more to the cooking-time.  This low-and-slow overnight method not only retains juice inside the meat, but hot-air-dries the skin during the process, preparing it to be crisped up perfectly.  I like to keep the head on during roasting because a) It helps keep the breast moist by creating a completely sealed off skin-suit around the meat, and b) Are you kidding, the meats on the neck is the best part!  But if your goose doesn’t come with neck and head (which is highly possible), just pull the skin around the “neck hole” together and close it with a wooden skewer or toothpick.

To be properly cooked through, sticky rice is usually soaked for at least 2 hours before cooking, but in this case we don’t have to worry about that.  If the sticky rice stuffing appears to be a little undone, it will completely cook through during the roasting anyways.  But if you want to make extra sticky rice stuffings on the side, just place the extras inside a bowl and cover with cheese clothe.  Steam the extra stuffing for another 20 min in a steamer.  If you have a favorite stuffing in mind, feel free to try it.

Ingredients:

  • Cantonese sausage and sticky rice stuffing:
    • 2 cups (415 grams) of short-grain sticky rice
    • 1 cup (110 grams) of cured Cantonese sausage, diced
    • 1 small handful (15 grams) of dried porcini
    • 1 clove of garlic, minced
    • 1 2/3 cups of water
    • 1/3 cup of mushroom soaking-water
    • 1 tbsp of grated ginger
    • 3 tsp of soy sauce
    • 1/4 tsp of five spice powder
    • 1/4 tsp of ground white pepper
  • Goose:
    • 1 goose (weights about 3.5 kg/7.7 lbs)
    • 2 tbsp of unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 1 1/2 tsp of salt
    • 2 tbsp of soy sauce
    • 1 tsp of honey
    • 1/4 tsp of five spice powder
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to season
  • Goose-fat mushrooms:
    • 18 oz (510 grams/very roughly 3~4 cups) of assorted wild mushrooms
    • 1/4 cup of goose fat
    • 1 1/2 tsp of salt
    • 1/2 tsp of freshly ground black pepper

The days before – To make the sticky rice stuffing:  Rinse/wash the sticky rice through a fine sieve until the water runs clear.  Set aside on a kitchen towel.  Rinse the dried porcini to get rid of dirts and sands, then submerge it in 1/2 cup of water inside a microwave-proof bowl, and microwave on high for 1 min.  Let soak for a couple of min, then remove the mushrooms (squeeze dry slightly) and reserve the soaking-water.

In a heavy-bottom pot, heat 1 tbsp of oil on medium heat and cook the diced Cantonese sauce and porcini mushrooms until slightly browned, and that the sausage starts to render out its fat.  Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.  Then add the sticky rice, stir to coat the grains with oil and cook until they starts to stick slightly to the pot.  Add the water, 1/3 cup of mushroom soaking-water (careful not to include the dirt/sand that may have sinked to the bottom), grated ginger, soy sauce, five spice powder and ground white pepper.  Once all the ingredients are evenly mixed, cover the pot with a lid and cook on medium heat for 15 min.  Then turn off the heat completely and leave it to continue to steam for another 25 min (it’s ok if the sticky rice appears to be a little uncooked because it will be during the roasting).

The stuffing can be made a few days ahead and keep in the fridge.

The night before at 11:30 pm – To roast the goose:  Preheat the oven on 230ºF/110ºC.

Rinse the clean the goose (especially the cavity) inside-out until there are no blood-clogs or internal organs left behind.  With your hands, carefully separate the skin away from the meat on the chest/breast, all the way down to the inner thighs.  DO NOT tear the skin, and at times a sharp paring-knife may help separating tough tissues/membrane.  Mash 2 tbsp of unsalted butter and 1 1/2 tsp of salt together, and rub the mixture evenly in between the skin and the meat.  This will deliver both saltiness and flavour to the meat because we are not brining.  Stuff the goose-cavity with sticky rice stuffing, then with a wooden skewer or toothpick, completely close up/seal the skin (like sewing) around the cavity-opening.  Do the same on the skins around the neck as well.  It should be a tight, hole-less skin-suit.

Then mix the soy sauce, honey and five spice powder evenly, pat the skin dry with paper towel and brush it over every inch of the skins (including the neck).  This will create beautiful color for your roast.  Season the entire goose with salt and some black pepper and place it, breast-side up, on baking-rack over a large baking-sheet.  Roast on the mid-level in the oven for 7 hours for 7~8 lbs goose (add 1 hour to each pound more).  Yes.  Why so low and why so long?  Because it not only gives you succulent meat but it dries the skin for perfect crispiness during the process as well (very much like air-drying peking duck before roasting, only that it’s done simultaneously this way).

Then Go.  To.  Sleep.

Next morning at 7 ~ 8 am:  After roasting, let the goose cool off completely for at least 1 hour (no more steam) then cover it loosely with foils to prevent drying.

At 6 pm or 40 min before serving – To finish:  Preheat the oven on 400ºF/200ºC.

Wash and slice the assorted wild mushrooms and scatter them evenly on a large baking-sheet.  Evenly mix with 1/4 cup of rendered goose-fat (if you don’t have enough, just add olive oil), salt and black pepper.  Place a baking-rack over the baking-sheet and place the goose (foil removed) breast-side down first on the rack.  Roast in the mid-level in the oven for 10 min, then turn the goose breast-side up and roast for another 15 min, until the skins are golden browned and crispy.  Remove the goose and the baking rack, and let it rest for at least 25 min.

Turn the oven to high broil, and move the mushrooms to the middle-upper level in the oven.  Toast the mushrooms, scrambling them occasionally, until golden browned and crispy on the edges.

Serve the goose over a bed of goose-fat mushrooms and enjoy the applause.

Here, Martha will tell you how to carve the goose.

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22 Comments
  • Belinda@themoonblushbaker

    12.18.2013at8:31 PM Reply

    DAMN GIRL! Not only are for filling my roasted meat dreams but you satisfied my love for Dr. Suess. I would trade any cake for this any day. My favorite part is that stuffing…. fatty, meaty heaven…

  • Dominique Paolini

    12.18.2013at11:05 PM Reply

    I love the inspiration behind this post. I’m a new follower and thing your blog is tops!

  • Two Red Bowls

    12.19.2013at12:07 AM Reply

    This is gorgeous. (So’s your Grinch rendition!) My mother always makes fantastic duck or goose every holiday season with a version of this sticky rice stuffing and I’ve been lazy and haven’t gotten the recipe from her. Maybe I’ll just be sneaky and try to one-up her by using yours. ;)

  • JaneMiami

    12.19.2013at3:00 AM Reply

    Just saw your goose recipe on Food52.com, delighted and am definitely going to cook this for the crowd on Xmas day. However, your maniacal madness and genius creativity was NOT adequately represented on their site!!
    How happy I am to follow your blog. Thank goodness you placed your link there.
    Look at the smog, inhale the goose, look at the smog, inhale the goose….

    • Mandy L.

      12.19.2013at3:15 AM Reply

      Jane, thanks and oh yeah the smog! There’s a lot of those around these days!

  • Melinda

    12.19.2013at3:30 AM Reply

    Sticky rice stuffing! Wild mushrooms in goose fat! GET OUTTA HERE! And a hilarious blog post. Nicely done!

  • Laurie

    12.19.2013at4:44 AM Reply

    I’m laughing my ass off at your rendition of Seuss! Too funny!! What a beautiful bird….my dogs are drooling as they look at my monitor, as am I….
    I have never had Cantonese sausage. Is it similar to Chorizo?
    This year when I made my after Thanksgiving turkey – a 20 lb whopper, I did a dry brine by rubbing kosher salt under all the skin and wrapped it over night in the fridge. Before cooking I dried it well and rubbed a mixture of salt and baking powder all over. Then cooked it breast side down with salt pork draped on the back, on low heat. Later took off pork, flipped the bird and raised the temp. Came out super moist and to-die-for crispy skin! This was much easier than the wet brine I usually do. I made oyster stuffing this time – yum….
    What else are we having for Christmas dinner??

    • Mandy L.

      12.19.2013at1:37 PM Reply

      Laurie, yum!! I didn’t brine my bird, but I found that the salted butter inside the bird had enough time during this low and slow process, to actually flavour the breast and legs quite thoroughly without brining (I’m not very enthusiastic about having a giant water-tub in my fridge…).

      Cantonese sausage can be found almost in all chinese grocery market. It’s a sweet, dry cured sausage that’s quite slim, used for a lot of Cantonese’s rice dish. In Chinese, it’s called “la-chang”.

      I’m going to post some christmas meal for dogs :)

  • Beata

    01.03.2014at12:33 AM Reply

    What a lovely recipe, thank you so much, it was delicious! I wanted to ask you how much shorter is the cooking-time without stuffing? I like to bake my stuffing separately.

    • Mandy L.

      01.03.2014at1:25 AM Reply

      Beata, without stuffing, just sew/stitch the cavity opening together with wooden skewer as instructed and roast for the same amount of time. The roasting wasn’t really meant for cooking the stuffing (which is already cooked) but more for cooking the bird.

      • Beata

        01.03.2014at3:55 AM Reply

        I realize that roasting wasn’t meant for cooking the stuffing, but most recipes say to add some additional time when roasting a stuffed bird, usually 20-30 minutes. At least when roasting birds that take between 1 to 4 hours to roast, like duck, chicken or turkey. I never roasted anything for 7 hours before, that’s why I’m a bit confused about the roasting time :)

        • Mandy L.

          01.03.2014at4:43 AM Reply

          Oh haha i see! The long hour is for the low-and-slow overnight method that I love for roasting large chunk of meat. The very low temp yields moist meat while drying out the skin. You will have juicy meat and crispy skin by roasting duck or goose this way! And it’s done in your sleep!

          • Beata

            01.03.2014at5:48 AM

            Absolutely! It really was the best goose I ever made, thank you again for this great recipe. ^^ Mushrooms were excellent too! Even my husband loved it and he’s not a big fan of goose. Now he’s asking for another one so I thought I’ll try without stuffing. :) You roast ducks this way as well? I’d love to try that! How long would it take to roast a 2 kg duck this way?

  • Mandy L.

    01.03.2014at2:36 PM Reply

    Beata,

    I roasted a duck for about 5:30 hr this way and it was absolutely delicious. It’s IMPORTANT to sew the cavity opening together, because it will retain all the juice that’s released from the duck and make the meat really moist. Before serving, carefully remove the skewer and drain out all the juice in the cavity, then pour it over the meat like gravy!

    • Beata

      01.03.2014at6:15 PM Reply

      Thank you sooo much for your help and quick reply! Can’t wait to try that ^^

  • Andy

    12.21.2015at7:39 AM Reply

    Recipe sounds great, going to try for Xmas. One concern, I have never had goose but have cooked duck breast. I have found the duck skin to be chewy unless scored to render the fat… Is this a similar issue with goose?

    Should the skin be scored or left alone and let the high heat at the end do it’s job?

    Thanks!

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      12.21.2015at5:15 PM Reply

      Andy, because the bird is in the oven for so long, most fats are rendered and the skin becomes thinner and crispier than pan-cooked duck breasts, so I wouldn’t score the skin :)

  • Vijay Bhabhor

    11.26.2017at11:42 AM Reply

    I just seen your recipe and its too good. I will definitely try this once I reach my village. Your step by step explanation is very easy.

  • Angela

    12.22.2017at8:02 AM Reply

    I would like to cook two of these for Christmas. Do you recommend increasing the cooking time? And can they be in the same pan during the slow cooking or do they need to be separated?

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      12.22.2017at4:09 PM Reply

      Angela, you need to allow at least a few inches of air circulation in between the two birds :)

  • Aman Lakhiani

    09.04.2018at7:40 PM Reply

    Hi Mandy,

    I was wondering if I could keep them in the fridge overnight after the 1-day cooking process? Then at my leisure, I could just do the crisping of the skin? Do you think this would work?

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      09.04.2018at7:56 PM Reply

      Aman, hm I’m not sure… I’m wondering if the meat will dry out in the fridge. Usually roast poultries are best when served right after it’s cooked, and as it sits it loses moisture.

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