The Best Cranberry and Orange Relish

Thanksgiving, the quintessential American holiday, is just around the corner.  What started as a simple celebration of the harvest and thanks for survival by English settlers (the Pilgrims) has evolved into a big national holiday around the dinner table, where we give thanks for all the blessings in our lives with friends and family.  Although this year’s Thanksgiving will look different than in years before, we will still gather around the table, mostly with just our families, to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, no matter how simple!

In search for the best cranberry sauce

Every year, certain favorite dishes always make their appearance on our Thanksgiving table, yet, every year we try different versions of some of these standards to find an even better variation.  To this list, I would add the elusive cranberry relish, which my (New England Yankee) husband annually tweaks, always taking detailed notes and rating each version with stars.  I have to say that results have been mixed over the years with most “good”, a few “great”, and some “never agains”.  Until this week.  Now, I can finally share with you the recipe which I believe to be the best cranberry and orange relish ever!

Why this recipe works

The recipe for the best cranberry and orange relish is adapted from the “Bon Appetit” magazine, from several years back.  The addition of orange, ginger and dried figs builds an incredibly complex flavor profile for this dish which balances so well with the acidity of the sherry vinegar and the astringency of the fresh cranberries.  Cooking the relish, rather than chopping it in a food processor as is the case with other cranberry relish recipes, also helps smooth out the overall result.  This dish is very easy to put together and can be made up to a week in advance.

What we will serve it with

This delicious cranberry and orange relish is part of the Thanksgiving Day feast that I like the most:  all the yummy side dishes that go with the turkey, rather than the turkey itself.  From the stuffing/dressing and the gravy, to the potato dishes, the roasted vegetables, seasonal salads, bread rolls, and pies, there is so much to make each year, no matter how small or large the number of people around the table.  Each year we write down a plan for the seemingly endless cooking for the days ahead and we have fun sticking to it.  To make your Thanksgiving prep simpler, you might want to check out my post about Counting Down to Thanksgiving Day which I hope might help with your planning too!

Cranberry and Orange Relish Recipe

5.0 from 3 reviews

The Best Cranberry and Orange Relish

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

A delicious condiment to go with roast turkey, chicken or pork.

Author: Marilena Leavitt

Recipe type: Relish/Side Dish

Serves: 2 cups

Ingredients

• 2 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium shallot, finely chopped (or one small red onion)
• 1, 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped (about 2 TBSPS.)
• ¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 medium orange, unpeeled, seeded, chopped into ½-inch pieces
• 6 dried figs, chopped into ½-inch pieces or ⅛-inch strips
• 1¾ cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
• 2 TBSP. Dijon mustard
• ½ cup water
• 12 oz. fresh cranberries, washed (or frozen)

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a 2 quart pan over medium heat and add the chopped shallots and ginger. Stir occasionally until the shallots are translucent. Stir in the cinnamon and cook, stirring often, until fragrant (about one minute).
2. Mix in the chopped oranges, figs, sugar, vinegar, mustard, and water and bring to a simmer. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Add the cranberries and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries begin to burst and the liquid is reduced, about 12-15 minutes.
4. Set aside to cool. Cover and refrigerate for 5-6 days.

Notes

This side can be made up to a week ahead and kept stored in the refrigerator. It is an adaptation of an original recipe which appeared in “Bon Appetit” in November 2016.

3.5.3240

? HAPPY THANKSGIVING, FRIENDS! ?

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