BRAISED GOOSE WITH WHITE WINE AND COFFEE

Braised Goose with White Wine and Coffee image

Yield makes 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

One 8- to 10-pound goose, trimmed of excess fat
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons neutral oil, like corn or grapeseed
Salt and black pepper
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped carrot
10 fresh thyme sprigs
2 cups not-too-dry white wine, like Gewürztraminer
1 cup strong brewed coffee
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Cut the goose into about 8 pieces, discarding the neck. (If you can get your butcher to do this for you, so much the better; the bones are tough and the joints not readily apparent. But you can hack right through with a heavy knife or cleaver.) Put the butter and oil in a large flameproof casserole that can later be covered and turn the heat to medium-high; wait a minute or so, until the butter melts into the oil. Add the goose, skin side down, season it with salt and pepper, and brown it well, rotating and turning the pieces as necessary, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the goose to a plate.
Add the celery, onion, carrot, and thyme to the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Add the wine and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the wine bubbles and is slightly reduced. Return the goose to the pot, cover, and put in the oven. Cook, checking every now and then just to make sure the mixture is not drying out (it will not), for at least 2 hours, or until the meat is very tender and almost falling from the bone. (The dish may be prepared to this point and set aside for a few hours or refrigerated for up to a day, then reheated before proceeding.)
Mix together the coffee and the cornstarch and stir into the sauce, cooking until it thickens slightly. Taste and adjust the seasoning, garnish, and serve.