Basque confit d'oie

Yield: 1 Servings

Ingredients:

• 9 lb Fesh goose

• 3/4 lb Goose fat

• 3/4 lb Pork fat

• 1 1/2 c Kosher salt

• 4 Bay leaves broken

• 3 tb Fresh thyme leaves

• 3 ts Freshly ground pepper

• 1 ts Freshly grated nutmeg

• 1/4 ts Freshly ground cloves

• 15 Garlic gloves

Instructions:

peeled ( preserved goose in it's own fat ) Cut up goose cutting thighs and back into two parts and breast into four. Remove wing tips and set aside.( Save for stock or soup ) Put fat (goose and pork) into large Dutch oven with 1/2 cup water and cook on low heat until all fat has rendered.Discard scraps. Mix together salt herbs and spices (excluding garlic).Rub goose pieces with salt mixture using entire amount. Put pieces in heavy plastic bag close tightly and refrigerate for 2 days turning bag often. Remelt fat. Wipe goose pieces dry and put them in the melted fat in Dutch oven.Add garlic and weight meat down with heavy plate.Put Dutch oven on very low heat and cook very slowly for 1 1/2 hours. Pour 1 inch of cooking fat into the bottom of a clean dry crock and allow fat to harden.Pack partly cooled pieces of goose into crock and then strain cooking fat over pieces. A thick layer of fat should cover the pieces of goose and there should be no air spaces between meat pieces.Cover tightly and refrigerate.Keeps up to 1 year. A pice of confit ( with a little of the fat) is good added to a stew or casserole as a flavor booster. It is also good served in small portions warmed over low heat and poured over mashed potatoes or rice.