Cranberry Relish

Cranberry Relish is that little something extra that makes the Holiday meal more special. This Cranberry Relish recipe could easily be called Cranberry-Orange Relish or a Cranberry Chutney, it's that flavorful. Here’s Sweet Daddy D’s simple and no-angst for Cranberry Relish recipe that will get everyone’s attention.

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Here’s What You Need

Simple recipe, simple ingredients:

• • Fresh or frozen cranberries (12 ounces bag-if frozen do not defrost)
  • Navel oranges (one for pulp and one for zest and juice)
  • Golden Delicious Apple (to be chunked for sweetness and texture-like Cranberry Chutney) 
  • Fresh lemon (used for zest and juice) 
  • Granulated sugar
  • Chopped Pecans (optional) 
  • A pinch of kosher salt makes everyone play nice together.

Here’s What You Do

First...you have a beer. Holiday meal prep is always a little hectic but can be lots of fun. This is a simple recipe made easy with a little mise en place. Pop a beer and read the recipe top to bottom and get everything organized. It really is a breeze.

Prep all the fruit

Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse with cold water. Pick through them to remove any that don’t look good-smashed or maybe a little overripe. Peel one of the oranges then remove the seeds and as much of the membranes as possible. It's messy but makes a better relish. Zest the other orange, then squeeze the juice. Pour that in a measuring cup and add enough cold water to make 1 cup.  Zest the lemon and squeeze the juice. Peel, core and chop the apple into small pieces about ¼ to ½ inch, you’ll want the apple a little chunky but not so big that it won’t soften while simmering for a few minutes.

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Simmer the Sauce

Add the cranberries, sugar and orange juice/water to a saucepan and place over medium-high heat.

Bring it to a boil and add the orange pulp, apples and a pinch of salt, then stir in the orange and lemon zest.

 Give it a good stir, then adjust heat to maintain a rapid simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool for about 30 minutes.

Add the chopped pecans and stir to mix everything together. Place the cranberry sauce in the refrigerator and chill.

That’s it, simple as that, all there is to it.

Hints and Tips

• This recipe yields approximately 4 cups (that's 32 2- tablespoon servings) of cranberry relish.
• You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe. If you use frozen cranberries, do not defrost them before you cook, just put them in the saucepan frozen.
• This recipe could easily be called Cranberry Chutney because the chunky nature of the apples adds a nice dimension to the texture. 
• Resist the temptation to cook this more than 15 minutes. It will set up once it is allowed to cool.
• How long will this keep in the refrigerator?  You can keep the cranberry relish in the fridge for about 2 weeks if its properly covered and sealed. It can also be frozen for a couple of months. Here's more on storing cranberry sauce. 
• Try Louisiana Pecans, they are delicious.  Walnuts are also a good substitute but you can also leave the nuts out altogether.
• Where do Cranberries come from? Cranberries, one of the few commercially grown fruits that are native to the United States, go back to the 17th century when Native Americans were known to mix cranberries and sugar in simple recipes. Over the years, cranberry sauces became known as a Thanksgiving accompaniment but now are actually associated with all Holiday meals. Interested in learning a little more about Cranberry Relish? Check out this article.

Here are some other recipes from Sweet Daddy D which go great with Cranberry Relish:

Sweet Daddy D's Herb Roasted Turkey

A dry brine and a liberal application of a herb-butter paste will result in a tender and juicy bird. So good, you won't want to just eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

Berto's Cajun Fried Turkey

Injected and rubbed with Cajun seasoning, then deep-fried to a golden brown. Crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. It's much more than finger-lickin' good!

Baked Ham

A baked ham is the perfect centerpiece for any holiday meal or other gathering of friends and family. A simple sweet and tasty glaze puts this in a class by itself. There are almost endless ways to serve this and endless possibility for side dishes. Everyone will go crazy over this....and maybe the best part-it makes the best leftovers.

Double Smoked Ham

Take a smoked ham and throw it on the smoker..you've got Double Smoked Ham. Delicious smoke flavor accented with a sweet and savory topping of pineapple slices and cherries covered with a sugary glaze. This will be very popular!

Cranberry BBQ Sauce

Try something just a little different at the next BBQ. This BBQ sauce is sweet and savory and sets itself apart by combining the tartness of whole cranberries and the smokiness of chipotle peppers. Your family and friends will wonder where this delicious sauce came from and ask for it time and time again.

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Yeah You Right!

Cranberry Relish

Cranberry Relish...tart and sweet at the same time. Add a little crunch with Louisiana Pecans and you have a traditional Holiday treat.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Condiment, Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cranberry relish

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 32 Servings

Calories: 47kcal

Author: Sweet Daddy D

Here's What You Need

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1 large navel orange peeled and membranes removed
• Juices of one navel orange
• Zest of one navel orange
• 1 large golden delicious apple peeled, cored and chopped into small pieces
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Zest of one lemon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup broken pecans optional
• Pinch kosher salt

Here's What You Do

• Rinse the cranberries and remove any that don’t look good.
• Peel one orange and remove the seeds and as much of the membranes as possible.
• Juice one orange and add enough cold water to make 1 cup
• Zest the orange and the lemon
• Peel, core and chop the apple into small pieces, ¼ to ½ inch. (See Notes)
• Combine the cranberries, sugar, lemon juice, and orange juice/water in a sauce pan and place over medium-high heat. Stir well.
• Bring to a boil and add the orange and lemon zest, orange pulp, apples and a pinch of salt.
• Adjust heat to maintain a heavy simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. (See Notes)
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 30 minutes.
• Add the pecans and mix well.
• Place in the refrigerator and chill.

Recipe Notes

This recipe yields approximately 4 cups (32 2-tablespoon servings) of cranberry relish.

Resist the temptation to cook this more than 15 minutes. It will set up once it is allowed to cool.

Try Louisiana Pecans, they are delicious.  Walnuts are also a good substitute, or leave the nuts out all together.

You want the apples a little chunky so they add a nice dimension to the texture.

You can keep the cranberry relish in the fridge for about 2 weeks if its properly covered and sealed. It can also be frozen for a couple of months.

Nutrition

Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg