It’s the holiday season and you might be asking yourself “What can I do with fresh raw cranberries”? Cranberries are such an easy ingredient to use in recipes. For one, you could decide to make an easy 3-ingredient homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe using the fresh cranberries. Or, you may decide to make this creamy Cranberry Fluff Dessert Salad. Well, I have another popular cranberry side dish to serve on your Thanksgiving menu this year. My 3-minute Cranberry Relish is a quick and easy cranberry recipe that deserves a spot on your next family holiday.
So much of the American holiday culture is centered around tradition. Food and family play a big part in our Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday parties. One of my favorite ways to enjoy cranberry relish is to load it up on a fork with a little turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and corn. I think everyone can agree that Thanksgiving food is best mixed together!
HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY RELISH
- Place cranberries in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped with apple.
- Squeeze in orange juice, and lemon juice.
- Add brown sugar and granulated sugar.
- Pour into a bowl and cover tightly.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
A variety of cranberry relish recipes are influenced by different regions, personal tastes, and dietary needs. Relish can be made to your liking. I’ve had tart relish with almost no sugar before (made for a diabetic guest during Thanksgiving) and I’ve had very sweet cranberry relish. Today, I prefer a mildly sweet and tangy relish to cranberry sauce any day.
For example, I make my cranberry relish with a bag of cranberries, orange, apple, lemon, and sugars. I really enjoy how much flavor apples add to the cranberries without being overwhelming while also reducing the tartness or tang a little bit. I highly recommend using two varieties of sugars, two freshly squeezed citrus fruit juices, and an apple.
CRANBERRY RELISH INGREDIENTS
■ CRANBERRIES: Use seasonal cranberries that are fresh. A food processor works best to evenly chop them.
■ ORANGE JUICE: My favorite way to turn ordinary cranberry relish into a delightful side dish condiment is to spruce it up with freshly squeezed orange juice.
■ LEMON JUICE: Citrus juices pair perfectly with slightly sweet and tart cranberries.
■ SUGAR: Sweeten cranberries by using a combination of sugar such as brown sugar and granulated sugar. The molasses in the brown sugar adds a tasty bite.
■ APPLE: Adding an apple to the relish adds a deep flavor and new texture.
Cranberry Relish is a no-bake condiment that I like serving as a side dish. Further, it features finely chopped bits and pieces of raw cranberry that are sweetened with sugar and citrus fruit juices.
To demonstrate, I blend ingredients together in my food processor or mini-chopper. If you don’t have either of these, use a meat tenderizer to break the cranberries down or simply finely chop the cranberries. Finally, my cranberry relish recipe doesn’t feature whipping cream, pineapple, marshmallows, jello, pudding, or cream cheese. Instead,
Cranberry Relish Tips & Questions:
- Are cranberry sauce and relish the same thing? No, they are not. Cranberry sauce uses sugar and whole cranberries that are heated over a stovetop. Next, the sugar melts begin to thicken to a near jelly-like consistency. Finally, this results in cranberry sauce. Cranberry relish is a no-bake dish with ingredients of finely chopped fresh cranberries and it may contain sugar, brown sugar, orange juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon or pecans.
- Can I eat cranberry relish right away? Yes. While it’s a good idea to wait at least a half-hour so the sugar has time to melt, it’s perfectly safe to eat relish right away.
- How long will it last? Cranberry Relish lasts 3-4 weeks tightly covered and refrigerated. Read the next section for more recipe ideas that use leftover Thanksgiving relish.
- How can I make it extra tangy and less sweet? Based on how tart cranberries are, you may need to adjust the recipe. Generally, start with less sugar than called for, then gradually add more sugar to your liking.
- Do I need to add sugar to relish? Overall, no. However, cranberries are tart. The sugar helps to cut some of the tartness in half but it’s not required. If you’re making this for a dietary needs, skip the sugar and adjust accordingly.
How to Serve Cranberry Relish
Cranberry Relish is often served for holidays like Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner. In addition, there are other ways to use this quick relish recipe this winter. Leftover cranberry relish? Use it in these recipes.
- DIP: Top quick cranberry relish on warm, melted brie cheese, or cream cheese and serve it as a praline Thanksgiving dip or a Christmas dip with toasted baguettes, crackers, vegetables, or cookies.
- CHEESEBOARD: Every meat and cheese board needs dry-cured meat, soft and hard cheeses, and fruit spreads like cranberry relish, figs, and honey. A quick holiday smorgasbord that everyone will love.
- CONDIMENT: Use it as a condiment spread on Thanksgiving leftover Turkey sandwiches.
- DRESSING: Mix cranberry relish with olive oil and pour over your favorite winter harvest salads. Make this Crack Broccoli aka oven-roasted broccoli and add the relish as a sauce.
- SIDE DISH: Serve as a Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish recipe. Relish is the perfect compliment to holiday turkey, Christmas Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, and a prime rib roast.
- VEGETABLE TOPPING: Serve the relish over freshly cooked green beans in bundles and almonds, pecans, or walnuts.
- CAKE: Whip the sweetened relish into buttercream or whipped cream frosting then frost your cake.
- BREAD: Mix cranberries into sweet southern cornbread for a tasty Christmas cranberry bread recipe.
Finally, for the ultimate Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas dinner menu, serve Cranberry Relish with classic Cranberry Sauce and this Cranberry Fluff Salad. After all, your guests will love you for it.
THANKSGIVING DAY MENU RECIPE IDEAS
In addition, if you’re planning your Thanksgiving Day dinner menu, try these holiday recipes. Of course, use this menu for Christmas recipes, too.
- Thanksgiving Roast Turkey
- Classic Slow Cooker Ham
- Honey Baked Ham Recipe
- Classic Crock Pot Turkey Breast
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce or Cranberry Fluff Salad
- Crack Brussels Sprouts
- Crack Broccoli
- Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
- Crack Roasted Carrots
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Pecan Streusel Topping
- Cornbread Dressing
- Sweet Cornbread
- Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole
Cranberry Relish
Ingredients
- 12 oz. fresh whole cranberries
- 1 medium Honeycrisp apple, core removed
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 orange, juiced
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine cranberries, apple slices, brown sugar, granulated sugar, juice of 1 orange and juice of 1 lemon. TIP: Tartness of cranberries can vary based on time of season. I'd recommend adding the granulated sugar as needed. Taste after cranberries, brown sugar, lemon and orange juice are added. If too tart, add more sugar or to your liking.
- Blend until cranberries and apple are finely chopped, wiping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Pour cranberry relish into a bowl. Tightly cover with plastic wrap. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Can I eat cranberry relish right away? Yes. While it’s a good idea to wait at least a half-hour so the sugar has time to melt, it’s perfectly safe to eat relish right away.
- How long will it last? Cranberry Relish lasts 3-4 weeks tightly covered and refrigerated.
- How can I make it extra tangy and less sweet? Based on how tart cranberries are, you may need to adjust the recipe. Generally, start with less sugar than called for, then gradually add more sugar to your liking.
- Do I need to add sugar to relish? No, however, cranberries are tart. The sugar helps to cut some of the tartness in half but it’s not required. If you’re making this for a dietary needs, skip the sugar and adjust accordingly.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate and it’s accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.
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updated 11/2020
