What Does Wild Goose Breast Taste Like? A Comprehensive Guide to Goose Flavor and Cooking Techniques

I had the good fortune to acquire some Idaho-sourced Canada Goose. These incredibly obese birds had undoubtedly been fed leftover field corn and other agricultural products. Wild Canada Goose tastes a lot like steak. They are frequently referred to as the Heavenly Rib Eyes. The meat tastes just like a delicious steak and has a beefy texture. You can tell you are eating meat that hasn’t been raised on a farm because of the flavor’s hint of wildness. These birds have grown fat on a variety of delectable treats after spending their summer in the verdant wetlands and farm fields of Canada, Montana, and Idaho.

I seasoned the goose slices with a little Maldon Sea Salt and arranged them on a bed of wild rice.

I then poured the mushroom cream sauce over the breasts and served them right away with a strong red wine and roasted root vegetables.

I positioned the breasts to the side and wrapped aluminum foil around them. I then proceeded to make the pan sauce. The skillet contained the oil, butter, and brown pieces of the goose. I scraped all of the brown bits from the skillet’s bottom and added vermouth to the mixture. I then added the mushrooms and cooked until heated through. I simmered the mixture for approximately three minutes after adding 3/4 cup of cream to it. The sauce was now completed.

The recipe I concocted included a wild mushroom cream sauce. The mushrooms needed to be dry-roasted as the first step in the cooking process in order to remove any moisture and give them a nutty flavor. The mushrooms were done after ten minutes or so, and I set them aside to cool. I then rendered the fat in the skillet by adding roughly five slices of bacon.

Meat markets sold wild game birds until 1901, when federal laws forbade the commercial harvesting of migratory birds. These days, the only way for non-hunters to obtain the birds is to beg them from a kind friend or relative who enjoys hunting. It was a meager goose harvest the previous year, and this season shouldn’t be much better. However, speckle-bellied and Canada geese are thought to be the best for eating, though snow geese are also tasty. Dale Witt, program director for migratory and endangered species at Texas Parks and Wildlife, states that he is “aware of no goose that is not good to eat.” The canvasback, known as the “king of birds” among ducks, is known to eat wild celery and was once considered a delicacy at Delmonico’s in New York. However, in recent times, its population has sharply decreased, and it is now forbidden to shoot canvasbacks in Texas. Many hunters seek out the small blue-winged teal because of its exceptionally sweet flesh. Depending on whether they have been feeding on rice stubble and grain or on aquatic life along the coast, mallards, pintails, wigeons, and gadwalls are also sought after. Ducks that consume fish, plants, or aquatic animals are generally regarded with disdain as their meat has an unappealing taste. I did sample a broiled coastal duck recently, however. The bird smelled fishy and oily, like mackerel, which made it unusual but delicious.

After acquiring the birds, the next step is cleaning them. Although most skilled hunters clean their own birds, cleaning services are available in places where hunting is prevalent. Game birds should be promptly cooled during warm winters when the temperature is above 60 degrees, even if they are harvested in the field, according to John Makin, executive chef of the Crescent complex of restaurants in Dallas and an enthusiastic hunter himself. This will prevent them from spoiling or becoming unduly gamey. Some hunters laugh at this precaution, preferring to age and ripen their game birds by putting them in the refrigerator for a few days to enhance the flavor. This process is comparable to the traditional “hanging” of game birds, which involves suspending the birds for up to a week or longer in cold air from hooks.

Preheat broiler. Bird should be at room temperature. Sprinkle breast liberally with salt. (Del Grande occasionally rubs sugar and salt together on ducks to aid in the skin’s caramelization while broiling.) ).

For example, a wild goose tastes like rich, rare roast beef—only better. The delicate texture and rich, robust flavor of the pink flesh of ducks, doves, and even humble snipes can be highly captivating. Even John James Audubon, a renowned expert in the field, believed that the woodcock, a small, snipe-like bird that lives in the Piney Woods and is not heavily hunted in Texas, is the tastiest game bird there is. It is cooked whole and undrawn (without its entrails removed). The French, who are aware of these things, remove the cooked entrails, mash them, maybe adding a little cognac to the mixture, and then spread it on toast. While many hunters view the sandhill crane as a dangerous, long-legged migratory bird to be despised, others think it makes for excellent sport and delicious meat that tastes like dark turkey meat. Not to discount the quail, pheasant, and wild turkey that can be found in Texas; however, since they are birds that produce white meat, their preparation can be compared to that of chicken. Here, we’re thinking about red-meat birds, whose meat is more like beef, and the common misconception about how to prepare them.

This recipe is based on the simple broiling technique developed by Austin sportsman and executive director of the Clear, Clean Colorado River Association Robert McCurdy, who has elevated the art of quickly cooking game birds. John Makin’s sauce recipe and Robert Del Grande’s recipe for a fitting side dish go with it. In addition to wild rice, other suggested sides include baked grits, fruit compote, braised cabbage, and fried polenta.

Do THIS before you cook WILD GOOSE

FAQ

What does goose breast taste like?

Is goose breast good eating?

Is goose meat gamey?

How do you get the gamey taste out of goose breast?

What does Wild Goose Taste like?

That is a matter of preference and, most likely, what one is in the mood to eat. While both are a red meat, goose tastes more like roast beef than waterfowl. Both have somewhat of a “rich” flavor, though because most people grew up eating beef, properly cooked wild goose might taste more familiar for some people.

Do Canada geese taste bad if you roast them?

Canada geese taste awful if you roast them or cook them similarly to how you would handle a domestic goose. However, there are several things that you can do to make them delicious. The reason for this is that Canada goose meat is extremely lean, and the globs of fat that are stored around the breast meat are completely rank.

How to cook wild goose breast?

To achieve a crispy and flavorful exterior, sear the wild goose breast in a hot pan. Heat some oil or butter over medium-high heat and carefully place the breast in the pan, skin side down. Let it cook for a few minutes until the skin becomes golden brown and crispy. Flip the breast and sear the other side for an additional couple of minutes. 4.

Are Canada goose breasts good?

The reason for this is that Canada goose meat is extremely lean, and the globs of fat that are stored around the breast meat are completely rank. In other words, it’s easy to cook them into a dry brick. And yet, I’m always happy to get a Canada goose. The breasts of a Canada goose are generally considered to be the best part.