Colonial Goose

Colonial goose is a dish from New Zealand that has been invented in the 19th century by British settlers in an attempt to reproduce meals from their homeland with ingredients that were available at their new place of living. Since goose was expensive and scarce, and lamb and mutton plentiful and abundant, available to every social class, the settlers would eat meat for almost every meal. To prepare the goose lookalike, lamb or mutton leg is deboned and stuffed with a mixture of honey, dried apricots, breadcrumbs, and onions, then seasoned with parsley, thyme, or sage. The stuffed meat is then tied to resemble a goose, placed in a marinade based on red wine, and roasted in the oven for approximately two hours. This dish was extremely popular during the 1980s and has since become a well-known classic, often prepared at midwinter festivities. Once cooked, the string is removed, and thin slices of meat are traditionally served with a side of pumpkins and potatoes.