Monday, May 25, 2009

Easy Cranberry Relish

Cranberry relish is a flavorful side that dresses up any holiday meal. Cranberry relish can be made at the last minute, or prepared ahead and chilled in the refrigerator until the table is set. According to the Cranberry Institute, the powerful berries are packed with antioxidants and other phytonutrients that help prevent certain strains of bacteria from harming the body.


No Cooking Nutty Cranberry Relish








This recipe produces a relish with a sweet and sour flavor with crunch (Reference 2). Combine one can of whole berry cranberry sauce with a half cup of chopped walnuts in a medium sized mixing bowl. Break the walnuts into small pieces by giving them a spin in the food processor, or placing them in a plastic bag, and rolling it a few times with a rolling pin. Substitute honey roasted almonds for the walnuts for a sweeter relish. For added sweetness, include one small can of mandarin oranges, being careful not to break the wedges. Add more color and citrus flavor with a small can of chunk pineapple. Put the relish in a clear crystal bowl to show off its bright red, yellow and orange colors.


Five Minute Fresh Berry Cranberry Relish


Use this easy preparation relish recipe when you have time to chill the dish before serving (Reference 3). In a medium saucepan, combine two small bags of fresh cranberries, two cups of sugar, two cups of water, 1/4 cup of orange juice and 1/4 tsp. of grated orange rind. Substitute 1/8 tsp. of orange confectioners flavoring if fresh orange rind is not available. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for five minutes. Watch for the cranberry skins to pop. Remove the relish from the heat, and pour into a bowl. Divide the relish into small individual ramekins for individual servings. Chill the relish in the refrigerator at least two hours. Leave the relish as is, or top individual servings with a scoop of whip cream topped with an orange slice.


No Cooking Fruity Cranberry Relish


This easy cranberry relish can be prepared in just a few minutes. Add one pound of fresh cranberries to a food processor. Add two unpeeled, but cored, apples to the processor. Cut two oranges and one lemon into large chunks with the skin on. Remove the seeds. Add the citrus fruit to the food processor, and blend until the mixture is coarse. Pour the fruit mixture into a mixing bowl and add two and a half cups of sugar. Mix the sugar into the fruit, and allow it to chill and get juicy in the refrigerator. Turn this relish into a side salad by adding the coarse mixture to gelatin. Prepare two packages of cranberry flavored gelatin. Add the fruit mixture to the gelatin while it is still liquid. Place the gelatin relish salad in the refrigerator for two hours before serving.

Tags: food processor, before serving, Cranberry Relish, Cranberry relish, Cranberry Relish This, cups sugar