Like most celebrations, especially in the winter months, that
honoring the life of Martin of Tours, St. Martin's Day on November 11, involves food. As a religious festival which coincides with young wine from Germany's wine growing regions being ready for drinking, together with geese not only being a symbol for St. Martin but also plentiful because of their annual autumn migration, roast goose accompanied by red cabbage, dumplings and wine is the country's traditional Sankt Martinstag supper. Martinsgans.Using chestnuts that were first introduced to Germany by the conquering Romans, and are very plentiful in Cologne because "Colonia" as they called it was one of the leading Roman settlement areas, despite its name this roast goose recipe is not only served on St. Martins Day. A regional specialty from Koeln, Cologne, the largest city alongside the River Rhine, it is a Christmas and New Year favorite as well as one of those meals which appears on special occasions.
Koelner Martinsgans - Cologne St. Martins Roast Goose
Roast goose with dumplings (Kloesse)
1 Prepared 3.5 kg (approx 8 lb) Goose
Salt
Pepper
Majoram
For the Stuffing:
500 gr. (approx 1lb) Chestnuts (can be vacuum packed with no problem, and it is possible to use canned but the flavor is not quite the same)
3 Tart Apples
100 gr. (approx 4oz) Raisins
1/4 liter (approx 1/2 pint) red wine
First prepare the stuffing
With a knife make a slash in the chestnuts so they don't burst, roast in preheated oven at about 400 degrees F for 20 minutes until the shells begin to open at the cut, cool and remove shells.
Peel the apples, divide into quarters, remove seeds and core then cut into thin slices.
Mix the chestnuts and apple slices together with the raisins.
Wash the cavity and the outside of the goose thoroughly, dry well and rub a mixture of salt, pepper and marjoram into the skin and the cavity lining.
Stuff the goose with the chestnut mixture and sew the opening shut.
Prick the goose all over with a fork, and place with its breast facing downwards in a roasting pan and, use the fat that drains out to bast regularly, leave in a pre-heated 200 degree Centigrade oven for one hour, turn it and continue roasting for a further 30 minutes.
The goose is cooked when the juices from the thickest part of its leg run clear when pricked, any pink tinge to the liquid means it needs a little longer cooking time.
Separate the goose fat from the stock in the roasting pan and put it to one side to be used another day. To make the sauce, take stock remaining in the pan, and stirring to dissolve the sediment add the red wine, bring to the boil, taste for seasoning adding a little water if a milder flavor is desired. If a denser sauce is desired thicken with corn starch or a roux. Simmer for two or three minutes and serve separately from a pre-warmed dish.
A goose has a large and heavy carcass so plan on the uncooked weight of the goose to be 1lb for each person, and don't forget to rescue the wishbone, after all when pulled by two people until it breaks whoever has the largest piece can make a wish, and who knows it might even come true.
There are some quite complicated recipes for both Potato Dumplings and for Red Cabbage, but these are two very quick and easy but tasty recipes.
Potato Dumplings - Kartoffelkloesse
Ingredients:
4 large or 6 medium potatoes, boiled and cooled
100 gr, 7/8 cup, self raising flour
1 tsp salt
Optional 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
Chicken or vegetable stock for cooking (can be stock cube)
Mash potatoes or pass through ricer until smooth
Mix together the eggs, salt, flour, and nutmeg if used, until well blended then add to potatoes
Knead mixture until thoroughly combined
Take pieces of the dough and with flour covered hands roll into golf ball sized dumplings
Drop dumplings into boiling stock and boil gently in half covered saucepan for about 10 minutes
Remove carefully with slotted spoon and drain. Place into warmed dish and serve.
Red Cabbage Recipe - Rotkohl
Ingredients:
1 medium red cabbage (about 1.1/4 to 1.1/2 lbs)
1 large tart apple
1 medium white onion
Juice from half a lemon
3tbsp cane or brown sugar
4 tbsp red wine vinegar, (balsamic is also good if there is any left over from summer salad dressings)
4 tbsp water
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and Black pepper
Peel apple and onion and chop finely
Using a sharp knife shred cabbage into thin slices
Saute onion in the olive oil in ovenproof pan until beginning to turn gold
Add shredded cabbage and apple, stir well and remove from heat
Combine lemon juice, sugar, wine vinegar, water, salt and pepper, pour over cabbage mixture and mix thoroughly
Cover and place in preheated oven for two hours at 320 degrees F
Caraway seeds can be sprinkled over the red cabbage before serving, and/or chunks of fresh apple, and it can be served hot or allowed to go cold and used as an accompaniment to cold cuts.
Guten Appetit!
and enjoy your traditional German Roast Goose.Photo Roasted goose with dumplings(Kloesse), and red cabbage courtesy EkkiO1, Bavarian potato dumplings cooking courtesy Afrank99 via de.Wikipedia, Cut Red Cabbage courtesy Aimee Justice, via en.Wikipedia.
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