This Cranberry Relish for Thanksgiving dinner focuses on seasonal fruit and fresh flavors. It’s the perfect side dish to a holiday meal.
Cranberry Relish
This Cranberry Orange Relish is a a fresher alternative to the classic canned cranberry sauce we all know and (usually don’t) love. This dish packs a fresh punch of cranberry, orange, apple, cinnamon, and warming ginger.
It can be the topping to arguably all dishes served at the traditional holiday meal – turkey, mashed potatoes, chicken, stuffing, green bean casserole, you name it. It’s easy to whip up the day of your meal. If you rather make it ahead of time, this gives the flavors a chance to meld together in the fridge. Even better!
The best part of this dish? It can be ready in less than 15 minutes.
What is Cranberry Relish?
Cranberry Relish is the fresh sister to cranberry sauce. It is typically made with fresh fruit, sugar, and select spices used to enhance the flavors that are already present. Known for being tart and sweet, it is favored as a topping to many holiday entrees and even sandwiches.
Typically Cranberry Relish is not cooked down, but rather chopped and mixed together and allowed to set. This preserves many of the fresh and beautiful flavors found in the ingredients used.
Ingredients:
- Fresh Cranberries – fresh is best, but if using frozen cranberries remember to remove excess moisture before using
- Blood Orange – really any orange will do but blood orange adds a fun color and interest to the dish
- Pitted Deglet Dates – I find that these add a subtle flavor to this tart dish without overpowering
- Honey Crisp Apple – this will add a sweet and fresh flavor to the relish versus a more tart apple such as Green Delicious
- Fresh Ginger – again, fresh is best and hopefully easily accessible during the holiday season
- Cinnamon – just a hint of warmth from the cinnamon is the perfect final touch
How To Make Cranberry Relish for Thanksgiving:
- Rinse all produce thoroughly
- Pulse cranberries in food processor for roughly 15 seconds or until desired consistency, scrape into medium sized bowl
- Roughly chop apples in food processor, place into bowl with cranberries
- Roughly chop orange in food processor, add to bowl
- Mix sugar or sweetener of choice into chopped fruit
- Add ginger and cinnamon and stir until combined
- Place in airtight container and place in fridge to chill for at least 2 hours
Ways To Enjoy Cranberry Relish
Many of us love to simply top our favorite holiday meal entree with this spread although you are welcome to get more creative with it if you please. A great number of appetizers can be made with this colorful and fresh relish. Of course you can use this relish in place of the traditional sweet and more jelly-like cranberry sauce.
Imagine a toasted baguette with a spread of cream cheese and a dollop of cranberry relish. Or a warm puff pastry with brie and a spoon of relish on top. Fabulous in a tasty leftovers Turkey sandwich or on mashed potatoes, this relish is a timeless addition to the holiday faire. The options are endless!
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Recipe For Cranberry Orange Relish:
Cranberry Orange Relish
Equipment
- 1 Food Processor
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Medium Knife
Ingredients
- 2 cup Fresh Cranberries fresh
- 1 Honey Crisp Apple
- 1 Orange optional to add with rhind
- 5 Deglet Dates honey, sugar, or maple syrup also work
- 1 TBS Fresh Chopped Ginger
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
Instructions
- Rinse all produce thoroughly
- Pulse cranberries in food processor for roughly 15 seconds or until desired consistency, scrape into medium sized bowl2 cup Fresh Cranberries
- Roughly chop apples in food processor, scrape into bowl with cranberries1 Honey Crisp Apple
- Roughly chop whole orange in food processor, add to bowl1 Orange
- Mix sweetener into chopped fruit5 Deglet Dates
- Add ginger and cinnamon and stir until combined1 TBS Fresh Chopped Ginger, 1 tsp Cinnamon
- Place in airtight container and place in fridge to chill for at least 2 hours
Notes
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