Recipes

Apple- and Chestnut-Stuffed Goose with Egg Noodles

  • Serves

    serves 8-10

  • Cook

    5 hours

This impressive stuffed goose is flavored with plum eau-de-vie and served with tender mlinci—toasted, hand-torn egg noodles. Get the recipe for Apple- and Chestnut-Stuffed Goose with Egg Noodles »

A lightly griddled egg-and-flour dough is torn into small pieces and transformed into tender noodles by being soaked in salted water for a side dish called mlinci. It's typically served with roasted meats like this impressive goose, stuffed with apple and chestnuts and flavored with plum eau-de-vie. Geese render a lot of fat when cooked, so save any extra for roasting potatoes.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. kosher salt, plus more
  • 1 tbsp. dried marjoram or oregano
  • 1 tbsp. ground cumin
  • 1 (12–13-lb.) whole goose, rinsed and dried thoroughly
  • 2 lb. baking apples, such as Braeburn, cored and quartered
  • 1 12 cups (8 oz.) vacuum-packed cooked chestnuts
  • 6 shallots, cut into quarters
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 14 cup plum or cherry eau-de-vie
  • 4 oz. slab or thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  • 3 12 cups (16 oz.) plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Finely chopped chives and flat-leaf parsley, to garnish
  • 12 cup dry white wine

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons salt with the marjoram and cumin. Place the goose on a work surface and season the inside with some of the spice mix. Rub the remaining spice mix all over the outside of the goose and stuff the goose's cavity with the apples, chestnuts, and shallots. Using kitchen twine or poultry needles, close the goose's cavity. Place the goose, breast side down, on a rack set in a large roasting pan. Pour the stock into the pan and place the goose in the oven. Bake for 2 hours, and then flip the goose and brush with the eau-de-vie. Continue cooking the goose, basting every 10 minutes with its rendered fat and pan juices, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the goose's thigh reads 160°, about 30 minutes more. Transfer the goose to a cutting board, tent with a sheet of foil, and let rest for 30 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, make the egg noodles: Heat the bacon in a medium skillet over medium and cook, stirring, until its fat renders and the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain and reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat; discard the remaining fat or save for another use.

Step 3

In a large bowl, stir 3 1⁄2 cups of the flour with the eggs and 3⁄4 cup water until a stiff dough forms. Transfer the dough to a work surface and knead until smooth, about 6 minutes. Cut the dough into four pieces and, using a rolling pin, flatten each piece until 1⁄8 inch thick. Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium, add 1 dough circle, and cook, flipping once, until just cooked through but not browned, 3 minutes. Transfer the dough circle to a cutting board and cook the remaining 3 dough circles. Using your fingers, shred the dough circles into 3⁄4-inch pieces over a large bowl. Pour boiling water over the noodles to cover and let stand until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain the noodles, return them to the bowl, and toss with the reserved bacon fat until evenly coated. Season the noodles with salt and pepper and transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle the noodles with the crisp bacon and garnish with chives and parsley.

Step 4

While the goose rests, pour the pan juices into a fat separator and pour off the fat, reserving 2 tablespoons for the gravy; refrigerate or freeze any remaining fat for another use. In a small saucepan, heat the reserved goose fat over medium-high. Add the 2 tablespoons flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Pour in the reserved pan juices and the wine and cook, stirring, until thickened and slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Season the gravy with salt and pepper and serve hot alongside the carved goose and egg noodles.

Continue to Next Story

Want more SAVEUR?

Get our favorite recipes, stories, and more delivered to your inbox.