Easy Make-Ahead Cranberry Orange Relish
A fresh, tart, and sweet cranberry relish made with orange zest and juice. This no-cook side dish requires only 20 minutes of prep time and improves in flavor after chilling for 24-48 hours.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) fresh cranberries
- 2 medium oranges (juice and zest)
- 1 cup (200g) granulated white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (optional)
- 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (optional)
Instructions
- Wash oranges thoroughly. Zest both oranges, ensuring only the colored peel is removed. Cut oranges in half and juice them, straining out seeds to yield about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of juice.
- Rinse cranberries in a colander under cold water. Discard any soft, brown, or shriveled berries and shake off excess water.
- Place dried cranberries in a food processor. Pulse in short bursts until berries are chopped into small, pea-sized pieces. Do not puree.
- Transfer chopped cranberries to a large mixing bowl. Add fresh orange juice, sugar, and kosher salt. Stir well until sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Add orange zest to the bowl. If using, add ginger or orange liqueur. Stir to combine evenly.
- Transfer mixture to an airtight glass container. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours (up to 48 hours or 2 weeks) to allow flavors to meld and sugar to draw out juices.
- Serve chilled.
Notes
The relish must chill for at least 24 hours to develop flavor and texture. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or frozen for up to three months. Do not reheat, as it is meant to be served cold. If using frozen cranberries, ensure they are thawed and thoroughly dried to prevent a soupy texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 65
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 50
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: cranberry relish, orange relish, holiday side dish, make-ahead recipe, Thanksgiving side, no-cook recipe, fresh cranberries, citrus relish