Goose Pastrami Recipe - How to Make Goose Pastrami at Home (2024)

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4.95 from 58 votes

By Hank Shaw

January 27, 2017 | Updated June 18, 2020

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Goose Pastrami Recipe - How to Make Goose Pastrami at Home (2)

Goose pastrami is what I do with most of my Canada goose breasts. It is an easy project that makes the most out of these often-tough slabs of meat.

Why geese? Well, Canada and snow geeseare very close to grass-fed beef in flavor (they eat the same thing), they have large, easy-to-work-with breasts, and they do have a tendency to be tough, which means that any way you can cook them that lets you slice the breasts thinly is a good thing.

Pastrami, in case you’ve never had it, is a cured meat from Eastern Europe or Turkey — remember the Ottomans ran Eastern Europe for a while — that’s normally beef or mutton. Although here’s an interesting tidbit from Wikipedia: “Among Jewish Romanians, goose breasts were commonly made into pastrami because they were inexpensive.”

So there ya go. This is traditional!

To make pastrami, you dry cure (sometimes brine) the meat for a few days, dry it a bit, coat it in the characteristic black pepper and coriander and then smoke it. Sliced thin on a sandwich, it’s God’s gift. Good pastrami at a Jewish deli is something you must eat at least once before you die.

If you have any goose breasts in your freezer, go for it. A pastrami on rye with good mustard, a slice of cheese and maybe some sauerkraut, and you got yourself some awesome there!

Once you make your pastrami, it will need to be eaten within a week or two, or you’ll need to vacuum seal and freeze it.\

4.95 from 58 votes

Goose Pastrami

I specifically call for Canada goose breasts here because they're the only ones I think are large enough to make this with, although domestic goose breasts will also of course work, if you have them lying around. Ditto for swan or sandhill crane breasts. Could you do it with snow goose or speck breasts? Yeah, but they'll be a lot smaller, and I'd only cure them for 24 hours instead of 24 to 36.

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Course: Cured Meat

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Servings: 8 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 skinless Canada goose (or domestic goose breasts
  • Kosher salt see recipe notes
  • 3 grams Instacure No. 1, good for up to 3 pounds of goose
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1/4 teaspoon caraway seed
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed juniper optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper plus 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup brandy red wine, vinegar or water
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander

Instructions

  • Weigh your goose breasts. For every pound of goose, you'll need 10 grams of kosher salt, which is about a tablespoon. It's OK if you are a little off on this measurement. Mix the salt, curing salt, sugar as well as the thyme, celery seed, caraway, juniper and the teaspoon of black pepper and grind them all together in a spice grinder. Pack the goose breasts with this mixture, massaging it into the meat. Put the goose into a closed container in the fridge for 24 to 72 hours.

  • When you are ready, rinse off the goose and pat it dry. It's fine if you have a little bit of the cure stuck to the meat, but you don't want too much. Put the goose breasts on a rack in the fridge and let them dry uncovered for a day.

  • Dip the goose into the brandy -- or really any other liquid you want -- and then coat thoroughly in the remaining black pepper and ground coriander seed. I like to grind this myself so the texture is a little coarse, a little fine.

  • Smoke the goose breasts until the interior hits 140°F, which takes me about 3 hours.

  • Let the goose pastrami cool and eat as lunch meat, or on crackers or whatever.

Notes

A word on the Instacure. The 3 grams I call for will actually be enough to cure up to about 3 pounds of goose meat. A general rule is about 1 1/4 grams of Instacure per pound. Do not use more than I call for, though. You can buy curing salt No. 1 online.

Be careful when you are smoking your goose, as the internal temperature can skyrocket in such small pieces of meat. They'll be ready in 90 minutes in a hot smoker, which to my mind isn't enough time on the smoke. Try to keep your smoker at 200°F or cooler; I like to keep it at 160°F, which lets me smoke the goose for a solid 3 to 4 hours.

What wood? Your choice. I prefer oak, maple or hickory for this, followed by walnut, pecan or cherry.

Nutrition

Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Charcuterie, Ducks and Geese, Featured, Recipe, Wild Game

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Goose Pastrami Recipe - How to Make Goose Pastrami at Home (2024)

FAQs

How is pastrami made from scratch? ›

Pastrami is made from beef, usually brisket, that is wet-cured in a brine, then highly seasoned with a rub consisting mainly of black pepper and coriander, then smoked for flavor, and steamed to finish. It is often sliced hot and served as a sandwich, though it can also be chilled and sliced as a cold-cut meat.

How do you prepare a goose? ›

Remove all the fat from inside the bird and, using the point of a small knife or skewer, prick the skin all over, including under the wings and around the legs. Sit the goose in an empty sink and slowly pour over 2-4 kettlefuls of boiling water. The skin will tighten and become glossy. Leave to cool, then pat dry.

How do you cook a mature goose? ›

Put some water in roaster if fat begins to smoke. next turn oven down to 175 , open oven door to let out hot air, then roast breast side up for 6 to 7 hours, or, when thickest part of meat reaches 158 degrees. note. Oven temps vary as does goose weight so total roasting time will vary.

What does goose need to be cooked to? ›

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer. A whole duck or goose must reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the bird. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

How was pastrami originally made? ›

According to The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home, pastrami originates from the jerky-like pastirma, developed by the Ottoman Turks, who dried and salt-cured meat (often beef, goat, or mutton) as a way to preserve it, then rubbed it with spices.

What is the best cut of meat to make pastrami? ›

This Jewish Deli is made from a fine brisket; however, you can make it from turkey or lamb as well. Generally, chefs use certain cuts, such as the deckle. It is a lean, wide, and firm shoulder cut for pastrami. Sometimes, they use the navel, juicier and smaller section just below the ribs for pastrami.

What do you soak goose meat in? ›

Always Brine Ducks and Geese

Soaking waterfowl in a saltwater solution replaces blood with brine. The process also adds flavor and moisture. Once brined in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours, the meat will be paler in color, giving it less of a livery look and more the appearance of domestic meat.

How long does it take a goose to cook? ›

ROASTING TIMES

Cook for 10 mins at 240C/fan 220C/gas 9, then reduce to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and cook for 20 mins per kg for medium-rare, 32 mins per kg for more well-done, plus 30 mins resting.

How do you make goose taste good? ›

You can stick with your favorite steak rub, or keep it simple with salt and pepper. You can add aromatics and herbs to the bag while cooking to impart some flavor. My favorite addition is a clove of garlic and sprig of rosemary. The choice of sides and accompaniments is up to you (mine change with the season).

How do you know when goose is cooked? ›

How do you know when a goose is cooked? To check your goose is fully cooked, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the stuffed goose – if the juices run clear, it's done. If you like to use a thermometer, the bird should have a core temperature of 70ºC.

How do you cook wild goose so it is tender? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. Rinse and pat goose dry. ...
  3. Stuff the ball of butter into the body cavity of the goose. ...
  4. Place 2 large layers of foil on a work surface. ...
  5. Roast in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 3 to 4 hours.
Nov 9, 2019

Why is my goose chewy? ›

The toughness is usually a result of overcooking, but there are winged and four-legged critters that can be a bit chewy even when cooked properly. When grilled, a breast fillet from a mature giant Canada goose is never going to taste like one from a young specklebelly.

Why is my goose meat tough? ›

Like duck, it's also a red-meat bird and goose breast is meant to be cooked medium-rare. You'll want to watch the cooking closely, the overcooked goose isn't like overcooked chicken or turkey. Instead of turning dry and stringy, it will become tough and chewy and taste like liver.

What goes well with goose? ›

Goose's natural pairing is with something acidic to cut through its fattiness. So, think acidic fruits like apples, cherries or citrus. Cherries can make delightful sauce that adds brightness to rich goose meat.

How healthy is goose meat? ›

Goose meat is an excellent source of riboflavin and vitamin B-6. These vitamins help our bodies use energy from foods. B vitamins are important for growth and healthy skin, hair, nerves and muscles. Goose meat is an excellent source of iron - more than beef, pork or chicken.

What part of the animal is pastrami? ›

While corned beef is typically made from brisket, pastrami generally comes from the cow's navel area, Serious Eats reports. The navel cut is a fatty one, and it's also likely to stand up well to pastrami's long cooking process.

Why do Jews eat pastrami? ›

Romanian Jews emigrated to New York as early as 1872. Among Jewish Romanians, goose breasts were commonly made into pastrami because they were available. Beef navel was cheaper than goose meat in America, so the Romanian Jews in America adapted their recipe and began to make the cheaper-alternative beef pastrami.

How does pastrami get its flavor? ›

Pastrami is usually made from beef, specifically brisket. It's brined in salt, dried a bit, and then seasoned with spices like garlic, mustard, coriander, pepper, and allspice.

Is pastrami made from cow tongue? ›

Normally, pastrami is made from the brisket, but I was relieved to find that Carrots & Ginger had successfully made a Tongue Pastrami and I decided to combine a bit of their recipe with Ruhlman's traditional pastrami recipe from Charcuteri.

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