Braised Goat Recipes

BRAISED GOAT LEG IN OBE ATA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed, ovenproof pot over medium-high. Season the goat leg generously all over with salt, then sear, turning frequently, until browned, 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how many pieces. Transfer to a large bowl using tongs.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Sear the garlic bulb halves in the rendered fat, cut-side down, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the goat. Cook the carrots and onions with a pinch of salt, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are just beginning to soften and brown at the edges, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices, tearing the whole tomatoes into large chunks with your hands as you add them. Add the thyme, bay leaves and habanero.
• Stir in the stock and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Return the goat and garlic to the Dutch oven, cover and transfer to the oven. Braise until meat is tender but doesn't fall apart, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare the obe ata: Combine all the obe ata ingredients except the oil in a blender and purée on high until smooth, working in batches, if needed. The liquid from the can of tomatoes should suffice, but you can add up to 1/4 cup of water if necessary to get the purée going. (You should have about 6 cups of purée.)
• Heat the 1/4 cup canola oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add the purée and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until the sauce is slightly reduced by about a third of its original volume, 40 to 45 minutes. (You should have about 4 cups of obe ata. It can be cooled and stored refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or stored frozen for up to a month.)
• Remove the Dutch oven from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees. Transfer the goat to a large bowl using tongs. Strain the broth, discarding the solids, and return the broth to the Dutch oven. (You should have 2 to 3 cups.)
• Add the obe ata to the Dutch oven and bring the sauce up to a simmer over medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld and sauce thickens slightly, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and place the goat leg back in, ladling sauce over the top of the goat if it is not completely submerged. Cover with lid and return to the oven. Braise until the goat is tender enough to pull with a fork and just beginning to fall off the bone, about 45 minutes.
• To serve, place the goat in a deep serving platter with the meat on the bone, or off the bone in large chunks with the obe ata spooned generously over the meat. Scatter the top with the lemon zest, fresh herbs and scallions.

BIRRIA DE CHIVO ESTILO JALISCO (MEXICAN BRAISED GOAT)

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil; add ancho chile peppers and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let chiles soak in the hot water until soft, about 10 minutes; drain.
• Blend softened chiles, 1 cup vinegar, 15 peppercorns, ginger, 2 garlic cloves, 3 cloves, 1 pinch marjoram, 1 pinch cumin, and 1 pinch thyme in a blender until marinade is smooth. Strain marinade into a bowl.
• Place goat in a bowl and pour in marinade, coating goat completely. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Transfer goat and marinade to a baking dish; cover with a lid or aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until goat is very tender, about 3 1/2 hours. Remove lid or foil and cook until goat is browned, about 15 minutes. Pour meat juices into a container and reserve. Cover the goat to keep warm.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add tomatoes and boil until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and let tomatoes cool until easily handled.
• Peel tomatoes and place in blender with reserved goat juices, 2 cups water, 3 peppercorns, 2 garlic cloves, 2 cloves, 1 pinch marjoram, 1 pinch thyme, and 1 pinch cumin. Blend until meat sauce is smooth.
• Pour meat sauce into a small saucepan and season with salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer over low heat.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil; add chiles de arbol and boil until soft, about 5 minutes. Drain.
• Blend softened chiles with 1/4 cup vinegar, 10 peppercorns, 1 garlic clove, and salt until hot sauce is smooth. Strain into a glass.
• Cut goat into bite-sized pieces and serve with a generous amount of meat sauce and hot sauce on the side. Sprinkle onion over goat.

BRAISED GOAT

Steps:

• Season goat with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium high heat until very hot; add goat pieces and sear until golden brown on all sides, about 20 to 30 minutes; transfer meat to a plate.
• Pour out most of the oil in saucepan, then add garlic, onion, carrot, and celery; cook, while stirring, until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomato paste and cook an additional minute.
• Deglaze the pot with the red wine and vinegar (use a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits that may have stuck to the bottom).
• Continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes.
• Mix in oregano, mustard, water, thyme, and rosemary.
• Return goat meat to the pot, season with about 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and fresh pepper.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, partially cover, and cook for 2 1/2 hours; skim off any scum that accumulates on the top.
• Transfer goat meat and vegetables to a serving platter, discarding any cooked herbs.
• Increase heat under pot and reduce pan juices, stir in roasted garlic puree, chopped dill, and mint.
• Drizzle the pan juices over the goat and vegetables, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
• NOTE: To roast garlic, lop off the top of a head so that its cloves are exposed a bit. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap tightly in aluminum foil, then roast for about 40 minutes in a 400-degree oven. Squeeze the cloves into a small bowl and mash to form a puree.

BRAISED GOAT

Steps:

• Lightly season legs with salt and pepper.
• Place legs with other ingredients for marinade in a sealed plastic bag or bags and leave in refrigerator overnight.
• Remove from marinade and pat dry; discard marinade.
• Heat butter over medium high heat in a Dutch oven or other casserole large enough to hold goat meat until it starts to sizzle.
• Add goat legs and brown slowly over medium low heat, basting frequently for about 10 minutes until golden brown on each side.
• Remove legs and drain off all but a few tablespoons of butter.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put onion and garlic in Dutch oven.
• Saute over medium heat until onions are soft and translucent, adding more butter if needed.
• Pour in wine, bring to a boil and reduce by half (about 10 minutes).
• Add enough stock to almost cover meat.
• Add rosemary and remaining thyme.
• Turn heat to high, bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
• Add meat, cover and place in oven for about 3 hours, basting occasionally.