Christmas morning goose hunt provided me with two geese. One for Christmas dinner, which was fantastic, but different this year, and one in the freezer for a special dinner, later.
This, of course, means I made a goose stock.
Goose Stock
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped
2 quarts cold water
1 large goose carcass
4 carrots chopped
1 cup chopped celery
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon of fresh oregano
1 tablespoon of fresh parsley
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Prepare
Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, or until soft and golden. Add the water, goose carcass, carrots, celery, and bay leaves and bring to a boil; with a large spoon, skim off the foam that forms on the surface.
Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Line a colander or sieve with cheesecloth and strain the stock into a bowl or other container. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. This is your goose stock.
It should firm up after refrigerating because the collagen you cooked into a liquid state is now firming up. The stock has collagen from the goose carcass. This is what makes soup stocks so damn tasty, so don't think it's gross. Remember, the texture and taste is fantastic and you CANNOT buy this stuff in a store.
But, what do with it. How about...
SVALBARD BEET SOUP WITH GOOSE STOCK
Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 red onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 pounds beets, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
2 bay leaves
2 carrots, chopped
5 cups Goose Stock (above recipe)
1 teaspoon chili powder, or more to taste
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
1/4 cup sour cream
Prepare
In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic until soft and light brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
Add the beets, bay leaves, carrots, and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes, until the beets are soft. Remove the bay leaves.
Transfer the soup to a blender, in batches if necessary, and puree until smooth. Return the soup to the pot and reheat. Season with the chili powder, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Pour the soup into bowls. Add a tablespoon of sour cream to each bowl, and serve.