Easy MOstly Bakes Signature Cranberry Relish features tart cranberries beautifully balanced by sweet oranges, currants, walnuts and celery. This homemade cranberry sauce recipe will have your family begging you to make a double batch!
Check out this short video on how to make this Easy MOstly Bakes Signature Cranberry Relish.
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History of the Black Currant in America
Depending on where you live, it may be difficult to find real black currants in your area. I recently discovered Walnut Grove Farm, located in Staatsburg, NY – or CurrantC as their products are known by.
Until fairly recently, you couldn’t legally farm black currants in the United States. And it was nearly as difficult to find a real currant in your local grocery store.
At one time, the black currant was believed to carry a fungus that was harmful to the white pine. Cultivation of the fruit was banned in 1911 and remained that way until 2003.
The owners of Walnut Grove Farm set out to educate New York state leaders on the availability of newer, disease resistant varieties. Armed with years of horticultural experience and research, they demonstrated that currants were an agricultural crop that could be safely cultivated in the states. In 2003, New York overturned the ban and other states have followed since.
The most common currant you’ll encounter in your local grocery store are labeled as Zante Currants. However, they are not really currants. In actuality, they are a type of vine-grown grape. Although delicious, they do not have the same unique and tart flavor profile as real currants.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the currant in America, visit the CurrantC website. It’s a fascinating read.
And now you also have a great direct source for your black currant baking needs.
The Great Cranberry Sauce Debate: Fresh or Canned?
When November comes, and cranberries have a prominent place in the produce section of my local grocery, I start to crave homemade cranberry sauce. In terms of the great debate at the Thanksgiving table, I fall in the fresh, homemade cranberry sauce camp and I have converted my husband and raised our daughter to think the same.
Some of the ingredients in my Easy MOstly Bakes Signature Cranberry Relish may seem a little different than what you would typically find in a cranberry sauce, but the layers of flavors and textures build upon each other in a surprisingly pleasant way.
The recipe starts out pretty normal with tart cranberries and sweet mandarin oranges, but then we add black currants. This recipe also calls for walnuts, but if you are not a fan, you can use pecans instead. Don’t let the celery throw you. Both the nuts and celery add another layer of earthy crunch to this easy cranberry sauce recipe that is quite unique.
Easy MOstly Bakes Signature Cranberry Relish Is a Great Make-Ahead Side Dish
If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year and looking for some new cranberry sauce ideas, this is a great make-ahead side when you are planning a large meal. Typically, I will make this sauce two days before the holiday. In fact, it tastes better after it has a chance to sit as the flavors mellow and improve overnight in the refrigerator.
This recipe for Easy MOstly Bakes Signature Cranberry Relish is also a great take-along side for the person who is short on time, as it only takes about 15 minutes total to make.
This recipe freezes well, too. Simply store the sauce in an airtight container for up to two months. Thaw the frozen cranberry relish in the refrigerator and give it a stir before serving.
I love recipes that can do double duty and this one does just that. If you set aside a 1/3 cup of the finished sauce, you can also use it to make a quick and delicious appetizer. Simply top a round of warm brie or goat cheese log and serve with crackers. It’s an easy way to keep everyone satisfied while the kitchen team is putting the finishing touches on dinner.
If you’re looking for more great recipes and time-saving tips for the holidays, check out my free downloadable Thanksgiving Dinner Planning Guide.
Easy MOstly Bakes Signature Cranberry Relish
Course: SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes15
minutesTart cranberries beautifully balanced by sweet oranges, currants, walnuts and celery.
Ingredients
12 oz. fresh cranberries
1 cup granulated sugar
1 15 oz jar of mandarin oranges (save juice from jar)
1/3 cup celery, finely diced
1/3 cup walnuts, finely diced
1/3 cup dried black currants
Pinch of salt
Directions
- Drain oranges and reserve the juice.
- In a heavy bottom sauce pan, combine cranberries, sugar, salt and juice from the oranges. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Stir constantly until all cranberries have popped, bubbles have cleared and the sauce becomes deep red and thick. About 10 – 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool at room temperature.
- Once cooled, stir in the celery, nuts, oranges and currants.
- Chill overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
