A stunning roast goose recipe is a must for those seeking something a little different to the traditional Christmas goose – mango, kumquats and pickled onion petals all add to the bright flavour of this dish. Also plenty of Southern French indulgence – the stuffing sneaks in plenty of Armagnac and Toulouse sausage meat for extra richness. Do not be afraid to try this recipe, it will certainly pay off in taste.

1. Preheat the oven to 150°C/gas mark 2
2. To begin, remove any excess fat from the cavity of the goose and set aside – you will need the fat and the neck of the bird for the roasting tray later on
3. Prepare a large roasting tray fitted with a wire rack. Pour enough stock into the tray so that it is halfway between the base and the rack, and place the goose on the rack. This initial stage of cooking allows the goose to gently steam, keeping it nice and moist. You can add aromatics such as lemongrass stalks to the stock before cooking, for a slightly different flavour profile
4. Cover the tray with tin foil to create a tent and place in the oven to steam for 1
5. To make the stuffing, add the shallots to a pan with a splash of water and a pinch of salt. Place a lid on the pan and cook until completely tender
6. Add the breadcrumbs to a bowl and add the milk. Set aside to soak
7. Add the diced and chopped stuffing ingredients to the breadcrumbs. Add the shallots, stir well, then mix in the egg, garlic purée and Armagnac. Season well, then mix and place the stuffing in the fridge
8. While the stuffing is chilling, prepare the kumquats. Add the sugar and water to a pan and place over a medium-high heat. Once the sugar has melted and the syrup is clear, add the kumquats and poach gently for approximately 45 minutes, until tender
9. Remove the goose from the oven and set aside. Increase the temperature of the oven to 220°C/gas mark 8
10. Stuff the cavity of the goose with the stuffing
11. Use a large needle and butcher’s string to sew up the cavity neatly
12. Drain the tray (retaining the stock), then add the reserved goose neck and some goose fat to the base of the tray. Place the goose on the trimmings, place half of the butter on top of the goose and the remaining half of butter in the base of the tray. Season with salt and place in the oven for 20 minutes, then decrease the oven temperature to 180°C/gas mark 4. Cook for another hour – do not hesitate to open the oven regularly to baste the skin of the goose with the fat and pan juices
13. While the goose is cooking, place the reserved stock in a pan and reduce until thickened. Set aside
14. To make the citrus gastrique, scatter a heavy-based pan with an even layer of sugar and cook until you have a pale caramel. Deglaze the pan with the Grand Marnier, orange juice and sherry vinegar. Add the citrus segments, cook out for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside
15. Now prepare the garnishes for the goose. To make the pickled onions, peel the onion and cut into segments. Separate out into individual petals
16. Add the vinegars, wine, water, sugar and a pinch of salt to a pan and bring to the boil. Add the onion petals, cook for a few seconds, then remove from the heat and allow to cool. Set aside in the fridge to pickle further
17. To prepare the swede discs, peel and cut the swedes into 5mm slices. Stamp out rounds of swede using a 4cm cutter
18. Add the butter, orange juice, sugar, salt and water to a pan and heat, whisking to emulsify the butter. Add the swede discs and cook gently until tender
19. To cook the Swiss chard stalks, gently heat them in a pan with a splash of the reserved stock until just tender. Drain and set aside
20. When the goose is ready, remove from the oven and allow to rest on a large board or platter while you finish the sauce
21. Remove the pieces of goose fat from the roasting tray and set aside – you can render these down further for other dishes. Place the roasting tray over a medium heat and deglaze with a good splash of Armagnac, scraping the bottom of the tray to incorporated any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom
22. Add the reserved reduced stock, then adjust the flavour of the sauce with the citrus gastrique, a little of the poaching syrup from the kumquats, a pinch of crushed garlic and a little lemon juice, if needed. Continue to cook until you have a beautiful glossy sauce
23. When ready to serve, pass the sauce through a fine sieve onto the goose so it is nicely glazed
24. Quickly blowtorch the Swiss chard stalks and mango slices on a heatproof surface
25. Arrange the swede discs, kumquats, Swiss chard stalks and mango slices on a serving platter. Place the goose on top, pour over the sauce from the tray, and top with a few more mango slices and pickled onion petals.