If you enjoy the flavor of cranberry then give this easy Cranberry Relish Recipe a try. The tart flavors of fresh cranberries is perfectly paired with fresh orange and sweet apple to make this tasty side dish that you’ll want to serve at more than just Thanksgiving dinner.
Most people are more familiar with cranberry sauce being served during a holiday meal. Every cranberry sauce recipe starts with fresh cranberries which are then cooked with sugar and sometimes other ingredients such as orange peel and a cinnamon stick.
Cranberry relish takes the raw cranberries and uses a food processor to chop them into small pieces. Most recipes combine the finely chopped cranberries with orange for added flavor and some include an apple to help sweeten the tart cranberries.
Easy Cranberry Relish Recipe
If you enjoy having the canned stuff on the table for your holiday meal then you’ll love the fresh taste of cranberry relish. It’s sweet with just the right amount of tang and it goes so well with many of the foods that are often served at a Thanksgiving meal or a Christmas dinner.
What is cranberry relish?
It’s a condiment made from sweetened, fresh cranberries. It is typically eaten chilled or at room temperature as the cranberries are not cooked.
Use it as you would other condiments and add flavor to roasted meat, spread on turkey sandwiches or use it to top warm rolls, waffles and pancakes.
You can also mix it into a bit of plain or vanilla yogurt.
Blend a bit into cream cheese and use as a dip or spread on crackers.
Mix an equal amount of cranberry relish and olive oil together (1/4 to 1/3 cup each). Blend in several tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to create a quick Cranberry Vinaigrette.
Top a piece of Brie with cranberry relish and heat it until the cheese is soft. It makes a deliciously easy baked Brie appetizer to serve with your favorite crackers.
Ingredients for Cranberry Relish
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this dish:
Fresh cranberries – this recipe uses the 12 ounce package of cranberries found in your local grocery store.
Orange and Orange Zest– you’ll need one large navel orange to make this dish. Before you cut up the orange you’ll want to remove the orange zest. Set the fresh orange zest aside.
I’ve seen lots of recipes that just cut the whole orange up. But I find that the orange rind is bitter and the recipe needs more sugar to balance it out. I prefer to cut off the remaining orange rind (after removing the zest) and the white pith and just use the orange slices.
Apple – uses your favorite type of apple. You can keep the peel on or, if you prefer, you can peel it before chopping it in the food processor.
Sugar – cranberries are quite tart so you will need sugar to sweeten it up. The orange and apple will add a bit of sweetness to the relish. It will still need a bit of white sugar added in.
To make Cranberry Relish:
Start by washing the cranberries and removing any damaged or soft berries. Place the clean berries in the food processor (or blender) and pulse to finely chop them.
It’s best to pulse the food processor as you don’t want to end up with cranberry puree.
Remove the cranberries. Add in the pieces of orange and apple to the food processor.
Process the orange and apple until they are finely chopped. The orange will create a good amount of juice.
Add in the orange zest and the sugar. I start with about 3/4 cup of sugar as the orange and apple help with the sweetness. You can always adjust and add more sugar at the end if you want the relish sweeter.
Pulse the mixture a few times to blend in the zest and sugar.
Add the chopped cranberries back into the orange mixture and pulse a few times to combine all the ingredients.
Taste the relish. If you want it to be sweeter sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar over the top of the mixture and pulse a few times to mix the sugar into the relish.
Can I make cranberry relish ahead of time?
Yes! Planning to make this relish to serve at your Thanksgiving table or holiday meal? You can easily make this great recipe a week ahead of time. Store the prepared relish in the refrigerator in an airtight container until you are ready to serve it.
How to store Cranberry Relish:
Once the relish is made it will last 10 days or more in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Want to store it for longer? You can freeze leftover cranberry relish for up to 3 months.
Be aware that the frozen fruit will not have the same crisp texture that it did when originally made. Once the relish is thawed the fruit will be softer and you will find that the relish is more watery.
Pour off some of the excess liquid once the relish is thawed and then use the relish to top your favorite meat or as a mix in to cream cheese, yogurt or top waffles, rolls and more.
Do I need a food processor to make this recipe?
If you don’t have a food processor you can use a blender as long as it has a pulse option. You will want to be able to control the length of time that the fruit is processed so you don’t end up with a watery, pureed mess.
Pulse each fruit individually in the blender until it is just finely chopped and then remove to a large bowl. Once all the fruit is in the bowl stir to combine. Sprinkle the orange zest and sugar over the fruit and stir until well combined.
Looking for other cranberry recipes?
Homemade Cranberry Sauce – make your own sugarfree cranberry sauce (or use regular sugar if desired). You might never buy canned sauce again!
Cranberry Poke Cake – this is such as easy recipe to make and perfect for the holiday season.
3 Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs – everyone will enjoy these tasty meatballs. A great appetizer to serve at parties and family gatherings.
How to freeze cranberries – save money when you purchase cranberries on sale and freeze them. Get the best freezer tips here.
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Easy Cranberry Relish Recipe (Thanksgiving)
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Mixing spoon
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cranberries fresh
- 1 large Orange
- 1 large Apple
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- Zest of an orange
Instructions
Prep the orange and apple
- Wash and dry the orange. Use a grater or microplaner and remove the orange zest. Set side. Next remove the peel. You can peel it off or use a sharp knife to cut it off. Cut the orange into coarse chunks and set aside.
- Core the apple and cut in half. Then cut each half into several smaller pieces. Set aside.
Prepare the relish
- Wash the cranberries and remove any damaged or soft berries. Place the clean berries in the food processor and pulse to finely chop them. Remove the cranberries and set aside.12 ounces cranberries
- Add in the pieces of orange and apple to the food processor. Pulse until they are finely chopped.1 large Orange, 1 large Apple
- Add in the orange zest and the sugar. Pulse the mixture a few times to blend in the zest and sugar.3/4 cup granulated sugar, Zest of an orange
- Add the chopped cranberries back into the orange mixture and pulse a few times to combine all the ingredients.
- Taste the relish. If you want it to be sweeter sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar over the top of the mixture and pulse a few times to mix the sugar into the relish.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
You might also enjoy some of these recipes:
Rosemary Pork Chops – these delicious pork chops are topped with a combination of fresh herbs and can be pan seared, grilled or baked in the oven.
Replace the strawberry jam in these Strawberry Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls with cranberry relish for a delicious treat.
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