Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish

Updated: November 29, 2019 by MomsWhoThink Staff | Leave a comment

If there's one thing that almost every family has on their table at Thanksgiving, it's cranberry sauce, so why not Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish? Whether you like it whole, canned or fresh, cranberries are a traditional and healthy way to add to your holiday dinner table.

Cranberry Relish is An Easy Thanksgiving Side

Homemade Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish may seem daunting, but it's actually really easy to make! The base recipe involves simmering whole cranberries with spices, a fruit (usually orange) and sugar until the cranberries burst, creating their signature juicy, tart jam.

This specific Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish recipe is simple. Try making it the day before so that all the flavors can meld and the relish can cool off in time for your holiday gathering. The addition of pecans once the relish is done adds a nutty, healthy element that offsets the tart, refreshing cranberry.

Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish is made with fresh cranberries, which have a number of health benefits.
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Cranberries Are Healthy!

Besides having a host of health benefits such as possibly reducing cholesterol and boosting the immune system, cranberries are widely known to boost urinary tract health and digestion. The addition of ginger, which helps sooth the stomach and is anti-inflammatory, makes this Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish recipe a healthy addition to your Thanksgiving dinner.

Cranberries contain vitamin C, E and K as well as manganese and fiber. Most recipes use fresh cranberries with some type of added sugar in a sauce to offset the tartness of the cranberries.

Cranberry Side Dishes

Cranberries can also be used in stuffing at Thanksgiving or Christmas time. Dried cranberries are usually added into savory sausage stuffings or chutneys because they pair so well with main dishes like juicy roasted turkey.

Our Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish uses oranges, but you can also use any other sweet fruit like apples, peaches, or lemons. The rind on oranges and lemons works really well as it simmers with the cranberries and provides a burst of flavor that meshes perfectly with cranberry.

Make–Ahead Dishes for Thanksgiving

One of the greatest things about Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish is that it can be made days in advance. This is even better because as the more it sits and the flavors meld together, the better your cranberry relish will taste. Once the sauce has sat for a few days it can be brought out and used to dress up your turkey or as a side with mashed potatoes.

Other Uses for Cranberries

Cranberry also goes great as an appetizer with hot melted brie. After heating the brie until it's melted, the Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish can be either used on the side so guests can take a slice of brie and top it themselves with cranberry, or you can baste the entire brie with cranberry sauce and bake until bubbly.