From sweet to savory to spicy, cranberry sauce has evolved far beyond its traditional role as a Thanksgiving side dish. This versatile condiment can add a burst of brightness to everything from roasted meats to grilled fish and even desserts. In this article, you will find a collection of unique cranberry sauce recipes that are sure to impress your taste buds. If you are a spice lover, try the Cranberry Sauce with Chiles recipe, which adds a touch of heat to the classic sauce. For those who prefer a more robust flavor, the Cranberry-Orange Sauce with Port Wine is a perfect choice. And for a twist on the traditional, the Cranberry-Apple Sauce with Ginger and Thyme offers a sweet and savory combination that is sure to be a hit.
This collection of recipes provides a variety of flavors to complement any meal or occasion. Whether you are looking for a classic cranberry sauce with a twist or something completely unique, you are sure to find a recipe that you will love. So gather your ingredients and get ready to experience the delicious possibilities of cranberry sauce beyond Thanksgiving.
CRANBERRY-CHILE SAUCE
Provided by Marcela Valladolid
Categories side-dish
Time 25m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place the sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the cranberries to the saucepan and return to a boil. Turn down the heat to low and let simmer until the cranberries start bursting, about 10 minutes. Add the orange zest to the sauce.
- Meanwhile, bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the guajillo and ancho chiles and simmer until the chiles soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Transfer the chiles to a blender using a slotted spoon; blend until they become paste-like, adding some of the water from the pan to loosen. Add the chile paste to the cranberry sauce, season with a pinch of salt and stir. Heat and serve as a great twist to a Thanksgiving classic!
PINEAPPLE CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH CHILES AND CILANTRO
Categories Sauce Fruit Side Thanksgiving Vegetarian Quick & Easy Cranberry Pineapple Fall Vegan Jalapeño Cilantro Simmer Bon Appétit
Yield Makes about 2 1/4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Combine all ingredients for basic cranberry sauce in heavy medium saucepan. Add pineapple and chiles. Cook, cool, and store mixture as directed for basic cranberry sauce . Stir in cilantro just before serving.
HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY SAUCE
Cranberry sauce brings a bright jolt of red to the Thanksgiving table. Melissa Clark teaches you the basics.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Number Of Ingredients 0
Steps:
- Cranberry sauce is one of the first things you can cross off your Thanksgiving list. Make a batch before you even start defrosting the turkey.Homemade cranberry sauce keeps for about a week. Cover it well and store it in the fridge.Don't be tempted to freeze cranberry sauce; the structure will break down, and you could lose the gelling.A raw sauce has a shorter shelf life than a more stable cooked one. You can make it a day or two ahead. If you see liquid starting to pool, drain it off and give the sauce a good stir.
- Sweetened with sugar and seasoned with orange juice, this is the most traditional way to make cranberry sauce. It's also one of the best. Place one 12-ounce bag fresh or thawed frozen cranberries in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and pour over these 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup fresh orange juice. Stir to combine. Cook until sugar is entirely melted and cranberries begin to burst in the heat, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir again, add the zest of one orange, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes longer, turn off heat, cover pan, and allow to cool. Put cranberry mixture in a serving bowl, cover, and place in refrigerator until cold, at least 2 hours, or until you need it.• If you are using frozen cranberries, there is no need to defrost before cooking. • Pull the sauce off the stove once you hear or see the first few cranberries burst. You want some of them to burst but others to remain whole for the best texture. • The sauce can be made up to 1 week in advance; keep refrigerated, and do not add the nuts until Thanksgiving Day, a few hours before serving. • If your sauce doesn't set after you've chilled it, put it back on the stove and simmer it for another 5 minutes or so, then let it cool and chill. That should do the trick.
- A shimmering cranberry jelly need not come from a can. This homemade version is bracing, syrupy and pleasingly wobbly. A touch of Lillet makes it sophisticated as well.In a heavy saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups Lillet, 1/2 cup orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier), 2 cups sugar and, if you'd like, 2 tablespoons juniper berries for a dash of spice. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add two 12-ounce bags of fresh or frozen cranberries (about 8 cups) to the pot and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until all the cranberries burst and are very soft, at least 10 minutes. Strain the sauce into a bowl through a sieve, pushing on the solids with a rubber spatula to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids. Stir the liquid and transfer to a pretty serving bowl or a mold. (A funnel or liquid measuring cup with a spout can be useful for transferring without splashing the sides.) Cover and refrigerate. It will firm up within a few hours, or can be made several days ahead. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. If you chilled the jelly in a mold, you'll need to turn it out. To do so, place the mold in a large bowl. Carefully pour hot water into the bowl so it comes up the sides of the mold, melting the jelly just enough to release it from the mold. After 3 minutes, try unmolding the jelly onto a serving dish. If it doesn't come out, return to the bowl and try again 2 minutes later. Repeat until the jelly is released. If necessary, return it to the refrigerator to firm up before serving.• Make it nonalcoholic, or play around with the flavor: Use 2 cups of orange juice, red wine, port or Madeira instead of the Lillet and the orange liqueur. • You can serve the jelly directly from a simple glass bowl, but the fun here is using different shaped molds. A small ornate Bundt pan is nice, and you can fill the center with sour cream or diced fresh pineapple. Pouring the jelly into clean empty cans is an amusing sleight of hand: "canned" cranberry sauce. Or pour the mixture into a plain metal bowl, then unmold it onto a fancy plate and surround it with a combination of dried cranberries and toasted pecan or walnut halves. • Make sure the water your use to unmold your jelly is quite hot, not just warm. The idea is to melt the outer jelly layer enough so that the whole mold can slip right out. • To avoid drips, after dipping the cranberry jelly mold into the hot water, dry the outside of the mold with a kitchen towel before turning it onto your plate.
- Raw cranberry sauce, or cranberry relish as it is also known, is snappier and fresher than the cooked kind. Even better, you can make it in under 10 minutes.This bright and bracing mixture doesn't really need a recipe - just a food processor. Put half of a navel orange (peel, pith and all), a cup of fresh cranberries, and half a cup of toasted walnuts or pecans (if you'd like), in the food processor and pulse together until everything is finely chopped. Add sugar by tablespoons until it tastes good. The white parts of the orange give the fresh sauce a pleasant bitterness that mellows over time. • If you don't have a food processor, you can make this with a meat or nut grinder. Or even a knife will work, though it will take you a while. Don't use a blender, which will reduce everything to juice.• Don't overprocess the mixture. Pulse it just until it comes together. The chunky texture is part of its charm.• Make this within 48 hours of serving. Unlike other cranberry sauces, it won't get better sitting for longer than that, and if you use nuts, they will lose their crunch. If the liquid starts to pool, drain it off and give the whole thing a stir.
- Classic cranberry sauce satisfies the traditionalists in your clan, but going rogue is easy if you've got the urge. Here are some ideas for jazzing up the flavor and texture.• Nuts add richness and crunch. Try pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, pistachios or whatever your heart desires. Toast them first, then add them within a few hours of serving so they don't lose their snap in the fridge. • Chopped dried fruit adds sweetness and a pleasant chewiness to cranberry sauce. Stir them into your sauce after it has cooked but while it's still warm. • Dried cranberries, strawberries and cherries intensify the berry factor; you don't need to chop them. Dried apricots and pears add color and a honeylike flavor; slice into bite-sized pieces before stirring into the sauce. Candied ginger adds a gentle bite; chop it finely before using so it's well distributed into the sauce. • Figs and dates give cranberry sauce Mediterranean verve. Slice them before adding. You could also add a few drops of rose water or orange blossom water to the sauce as well. Cranberries are more sour than sweet, and you'll need some kind of sugar to balance out that acid. Changing up the sweetener is a way to tweak the flavor of your sauce. • White sugar, which most recipes use, leaves you with the cleanest and purest cranberry flavor. Brown sugar adds a caramel richness, though it muddies the vivid scarlet of what may be the only colorful thing on the table. • Liquid sweeteners, including honey, maple syrup and agave, can also be used, but you'll have to reduce the liquid in the recipe to make up for the addition. Or let the mixture simmer for an extra minute to cook off some of the moisture. Rule of thumb: when it looks like loose jam, pull it off the heat. It will thicken as it cools. • If you want something on the tart side, start out with less sugar than the recipes calls for, then add more to taste.Liqueurs, spirits, wine and fruit juices add depth to cranberry sauce, and can be used in place of some or all the water in any given recipe. If you're adding something sweet, you may want to reduce the added sugar in the recipe. Be aware that most but not all of the alcohol will cook off during the simmering. • Orange is a classic cranberry match in the form of orange juice or Grand Marnier. But other flavors work well, too. • Consider apple cider and applejack, brandy, Bourbon, Chambord, red or white wine, vermouth or a fortified wine such as port, Madeira or Lillet. Adding aromatics turns the usual jamlike cranberry sauce into more of a complex chutney. • Fresh chiles and fresh ginger bring sharpness and heat. Mince chiles and discard the seeds, or finely grate the ginger, then add to the pot along with the cranberries. • Sweet spices (cinnamon, clove, allspice) give a perfumed warmth. Stir in ground spices to taste at during the last minute or two of cooking. If you want to use whole spices, wrap them in cheese cloth so you'll be able to discard them easily later, and add them along with the cranberries to they have time to infuse. • Herbs like bay leaf and thyme can add a woodsy note. Wrap them in cheese cloth or tie them into a bundle with kitchen twine, and add them with the cranberries. Discard after cooking.• Freshly grated citrus zest lends brightness. Add them to taste after you've pulled the cranberry sauce off the heat.
CHILLI CRANBERRY SAUCE
A tiny hint of chilli lifts this cranberry sauce to a whole new tastebud-tingling level
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Condiment
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Gently heat sugar and wine in a saucepan. Once sugar has dissolved, bring to the boil.
- Tip in the chilli and cranberries, return to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for about 10 mins until the berries have popped but not completely collapsed. Take off the heat. The sauce will continue to cook with the heat from the pan, then thicken as it cools.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 66 calories, Carbohydrate 15 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 15 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Sodium 0.01 milligram of sodium
CRANBERRY CHILI SALSA
"This is delicious, easy to make and very different from your typical salsas. The combination of tart and sweet adds to its appeal." Try it-it's sensational! Mary Guertin - Bourbonnais, IL
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 10m
Yield 2-1/2 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the cranberries, sugar, chilies, cilantro, onions, lime juice, zest and spices in a food processor; cover and pulse just until blended. Transfer to a serving bowl; chill until serving. Serve with chips.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 78 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 46mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (16g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges
CRANBERRY CHILI MEATBALLS
My friends look forward to enjoying these chili sauce meatballs at our holiday gatherings and there are never any leftovers! Using packaged meatballs helps save time in the kitchen and they are just as tasty as homemade. The sauce is tangy yet sweet, and the festive color is perfect for any holiday party. -Amy Scamerhorn, Indianapolis, Indiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 30m
Yield about 5 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the first six ingredients; stir until sugar is dissolved. Add meatballs; cook until heated through, 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. , Editor's Note: To prepare in a slow cooker, heat sauce ingredients as directed. Add sauce and meatballs to a 4-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, 2-3 hours. , Freeze Option: Freeze cooled meatball mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish until heated through, gently stirring and adding a little water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 74 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 6mg cholesterol, Sodium 191mg sodium, Carbohydrate 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.
Tips:
- Use fresh cranberries: Fresh cranberries are the best choice for this recipe, as they have a brighter flavor and more tartness than frozen cranberries. If you can't find fresh cranberries, you can use frozen cranberries, but be sure to thaw them completely before using.
- Don't overcook the cranberries: Overcooked cranberries will become mushy and lose their flavor. Cook them just until they burst and start to release their juices.
- Taste the sauce as you cook it: The amount of sugar and chili powder you need will depend on your personal preferences. Taste the sauce as you cook it and adjust the seasonings accordingly.
- Let the sauce cool before serving: The sauce will thicken as it cools, so be sure to let it cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve the sauce with your favorite holiday dishes: Cranberry sauce is a classic Thanksgiving and Christmas side dish, but it can also be served with other holiday dishes, such as ham, turkey, or chicken.
Conclusion:
This cranberry sauce with chiles is a delicious and easy-to-make side dish that is perfect for any holiday gathering. The cranberries are tart and tangy, while the chiles add a subtle heat that balances out the sweetness of the sauce. This sauce is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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