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Perfect Make-Ahead Cranberry Orange Relish

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A bright, tangy, and perfectly sweet cranberry relish infused with fresh orange and warm cinnamon. This easy, five-ingredient recipe is the ultimate make-ahead holiday side that actually gets better after a day or two in the fridge.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340g) fresh cranberries
  • 1 large navel orange (zest and juice)
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange thoroughly, pat dry, and zest the entire orange using a microplane or fine zester (avoid the white pith). Set zest aside. Cut the orange in half and juice it to get about 1/3 cup (80ml) of fresh orange juice. Remove any seeds.
  2. In a medium saucepan (2-3 quart), combine the fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, granulated sugar, cinnamon stick, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine.
  3. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally as the mixture warms. After about 5-7 minutes, the cranberries will start to pop. Once bubbles break the surface, reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer.
  4. Let the relish simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the cranberries have burst and broken down and the liquid has reduced to a syrupy consistency. The relish is done when it coats the back of a spoon and leaves a clear trail when you drag your finger through it.
  5. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Discard the cinnamon stick. Let the relish cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
  6. Spoon the warm relish into a clean glass jar or airtight container. Let it cool completely at room temperature before sealing the lid.
  7. Refrigerate the sealed container for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the relish to set. The relish will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Notes

This relish improves after a day or two in the fridge. Don’t skip the cooling step before refrigerating to avoid a watery texture. For a deeper flavor, try swapping half the sugar with light brown sugar. If you don’t have a cinnamon stick, use 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon added at the end of cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange relish, make-ahead cranberry sauce, holiday cranberry relish, easy cranberry recipe, Thanksgiving side dish, cranberry orange relish recipe

Find it online: https://tablemira.com/perfect-make-ahead-cranberry-orange-relish-easy-holiday-recipe/