Goose Breast With Preserved Cranberry Farro Food

PERFECT FARRO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil with the bay leaves. Meanwhile, spread the farro in a medium skillet and set over medium heat. Cook the farro, stirring with a wooden spoon, until lightly toasted, about 6 minutes. (The farro will darken a shade and smell nutty and fragrant.)
• Add the farro to the boiling water and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the grains are cooked through but still somewhat chewy, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the type of farro. Drain well and discard the bay leaves.
• Transfer to a serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil or butter and toss to combine. If you are making the farro ahead, spread while hot on a baking sheet lined with parchment to stop the cooking as it cools. Once cool, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

BASIC FARRO

Steps:

• In a nonreactive sauce pot, bring the Court-Bouillon to a slow simmer. Meanwhile, in a large braising pan, saute the vegetables and garlic in the olive oil until tender. Add the farro, and stir with a wooden spoon while continuing to saute until the farro in pearlized (begins to change color). Season with the salt and pepper. Using an 8 oz. ladle, add a ladle full of stock to the farro. Stir the farro from the bottom, and allow the stock to become almost completely absorbed by the rice. Repeat the procedure until the farro has cooked for exactly 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the thyme. Transfer immediately to two large sheet pans. Spread the farro out evenly using a rubber spatula. Allow the farro to cool in the walk-in cooler. Transfer to a container, and label and cover tightly.
• In a stock pot over moderate heat, sweat the vegetables in the grape seed oil until tender. Add the white wine and the bouquet garni. Fill the pot with one gallon of cold water, and bring it to a boil over high flame. Reduce the heat and simmer for two hours skimming intermittently. Strain through a fine mesh strainer lined with moistened cheesecloth.

CAPRESE DI FARRO

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, toss in the farro and cook for 20 minutes, strain, and rinse with cold water, then set aside.
• Add the tomatoes to a bowl, add the mozzarella, rip the basil leaves with your hands, and add the olives.
• Season with a good quality extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper, to taste.
• Serve right away or cover and refrigerate for tomorrow's picnic.

WILD GOOSE BREASTS WITH ORANGE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse the breasts in cold water, and place in baking dish. Splash with vermouth, then season with salt; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, garlic and soy sauce. Season with mustard and caraway. Pour glaze over breasts in baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until no longer pink and juices run clear. Baste at least twice during baking.

SLOW-COOKED GOOSE WITH CRANBERRY SALSA

Steps:

• Take the goose out of the fridge 1 hr before cooking. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. In a frying pan, toast the whole spices over a medium heat until aromatic. Use a pestle and mortar (or spice grinder) to grind to a fine powder. Mix in the crumbled stock cubes, orange zest, 1 tsp salt and cinnamon.
• Lay the goose in a high-sided roasting tin, score the skin all over with a sharp knife and rub in the spice mix, making sure you press into all the cut marks. Loosely cover the tin with foil and roast for 2 hrs, then remove the foil and roast for a further 2 hrs. Once cooked, rest for at least 20 mins, loosely covered with foil. Reserving the fat to roast your cabbage (see goes well with).
• While the goose cooks, make the salsa. Fry the onions in the oil over a medium heat for 10-15 mins until golden brown. Add the cranberries, cook for a few more mins, then remove from the heat. Mix in the remaining salsa ingredients and keep in a warm place to allow the flavours to infuse. Carve the goose and serve with the salsa.