Quick and easy cranberry relish recipe, made with simple ingredients in one pot/ bowl in 10 minutes. It's a classic, fresh, sweet and tart side/ condiment. Also known as cranberry salad.
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This homemade and old fashioned cranberry relish from scratch is always a big hit at our Christmas and Thanksgiving feasts. The wonderful flavor and texture comes from fresh fruits. Don't even think about using dried or frozen cranberries! This is not cooked relish. The cooked version is actually called cranberry sauce and the recipe for that is entirely different. Check out my One Pot Cranberry Sauce recipe.
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Tips and techniques
- Adjust the amount of sugar, based on your preference.
- Honey or maple syrup can be used instead of sugar but that can make everything very watery. So, be cautious!
- For a hint of spice, add ¼ ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ground ginger.
- You must allow this to sit undisturbed in the fridge for at least 1 hour to allow all the flavors to deepen.
- Garnish with some fresh mint or parsley.
- Don't use frozen or dried cranberries!
- Don't process the fruits for too long in the food processor because it's supposed to be rough and chunky.
- If you don't have a food processor, you can roughly chop the cranberries, apple, orange and mix it all together with sugar and zest in a serving bowl. It will be tedious work though.
Variations
- Replace apple with drained, crushed pineapples.
- For a hint of spice, add half a jalapeno.
- I don't add walnuts but you can sprinkle on top, prior to serving to add a little crunch. Roasted pecans is another nut option.
How to make easy one pot cranberry relish recipe from scratch?
- Roughly chop cranberries, apples, oranges in a food processor.
- Mix in sugar and zest.
- Transfer to a bowl and chill before serving.
How to freeze cranberry relish?
No, don't do it! That's because when it thaws, it will release a lot of water.
How long will cranberry relish last?
It stays fresh for up to 3 days, when stored properly but I like to serve it within 2 days.
Can you make cranberry relish ahead of time?
Yes, it can be made about 2 days in advance. It should be stored in a sealed container in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
What is cranberry relish used for?
It's a side dish or condiment that is made with raw cranberries. It's sweet and tart and most often combined with apples, oranges and some sugar. Nuts are sometimes sprinkled on top for a slight crunch. This is different from cranberry sauce because the sauce is cooked and has an entirely different, relatively smoother consistency.
It can be served alongside meats such as turkey, pork tenderloin, ham (such as this Slow Cooker Ham). Leftovers can be used as a filling or spread in burgers and sandwiches. It can also be served over brie or cream cheese as a Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday appetizer.
More one pot side dishes
Recipe
Cranberry Relish Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 package Cranberries Fresh, Washed and patted dry, 12 oz.
- 1 Apple Cored, Cut into quarters, Optional
- 1 Orange Medium size, Peeled, Seeds removed, Cut into quarters
- ¾ cup Granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Orange zest
Instructions
- Add cranberries, apple, orange, sugar, zest in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Do not try to make this smooth! It's not eaten that way.
- Transfer this to serving bowl. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour so that the flavors deepen.
- Garnish with mint leaves (optional) and enjoy.
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Tayler Ross says
This cranberry relish is so perfect for the holidays! I love how easy this is!
Suzy says
Now this relish is so fresh looking and festive! What a great recipe!
Leo says
I love this relish but I omit the apple. It easy,simple and turns out very tasty.....a keeper.
WhyKnot says
I don't blame you, I never put apple in mines either!
Abeer Rizvi says
I like adding them because I feel like it adds more flavor and texture but everyone has their own preference.
Monica says
Make this!!! It’s great tasting!
Jacqui L. Thomas says
I make it and love it, but because I want less sugar I add one 8 serving box of any red SUGAR FREE jello instead of the sugar. Tastes wonderful! Just a thought...
Abeer Rizvi says
Oh! That's a great idea. I will try that next time for some of my family members who watch this sugar intake.