When I was a kid, my mom attempted to make a Christmas Goose. It didn’t quite work out like she’d hoped, and we wound up having Christmas Spaghetti for dinner. Well, our family has a little phrase we drop when something doesn’t quite go as planned, but we don’t want to admit it…”I mean to do that.” This year, on her birthday, I decided to honor her by turning that ill fated Christmas dinner into a featured “I REALLY meant to do that” by combining the two key concepts…goose meat and spaghetti!
We started by slow cooking our goose thigh so it would be super tender by the time we added it to our sauce…which was extremely mushroom and garlic infused! We then served it atop tricolour spaghetti with a small side of steamed broccoli. In all, I think Mom would have rolled her eyes at the concept, but I think she would have also enjoyed this one.
Time: 7 Hours (most of which is time spent in the slow cooker)
Ingredients (makes 3 servings):
- 2 Goose Thighs
- 1 Head of Garlic
- 8 oz Cremini Mushrooms
- 1 Onion
- Tomato Sauce (quantity TBD depending on how thick you like your sauce)
- Oregano
- Parmesan Cheese
- 8 oz Spaghetti
Method:
- Place your goose thighs in your slow cooker, and sprinkle a little salt, garlic powder, and oregano atop. Set the slow cooker to low, and cook for 6.5 hours.
- As your goose cooks, Roast your Garlic.
- When your goose nears the end of its cook time, bring a pot of water to a boil for your pasta.
- Dice your onion. Then, heat a little olive oil in a pan, and add your onion. Sprinkle in some oregano, and add your roasted garlic, and saute until your onions turn opaque.
- As your onions cook, clean your mushrooms, and mince them in a food processor. Then, add them to your onion pan, and stir to combine.
- Remove your goose thighs from the slow cooker when they’re ready, and peel and discard the skin. Then, remove the bone, and shred the meat by hand or with two forks.
- When your mushrooms have rendered a bit, and the excess liquid has evaporated from the pan, pour in your tomato sauce. Then, add in your pulled goose meat, and stir to combine. Then, cover, and allow to simmer.
- While your meat sauce simmers, add your spaghetti to the boiling water, and cook until it reaches your desired softness.
- Drain your pasta, and plate it. Then, scoop your meat sauce atop, and sprinkle your parmesan cheese atop everything.
- Devour, and enjoy!
