Cranberry Pecan Relish
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Flavored with maple syrup, orange zest, and balsamic vinegar, this nutty cranberry relish is a delicious alternative to cranberry sauce.
This cranberry pecan relish recipe comes from Karen Tannenbaum, one of my longtime readers and recipe pen pals (if you haven’t made Karen’s Kentucky butter cake, you’re missing out!). I made the relish for Thanksgiving last year, and it was a huge hit, so I’ve been holding onto the recipe to share with you ever since. The addition of maple syrup, orange zest, balsamic vinegar, and toasted pecans makes it a delicious alternative to traditional cranberry sauce. I like the relish best warm, but it can also be served cold or at room temperature.
“I made this for Thanksgiving, and it was a hit! The folks who didn’t think they liked cranberries and the folks who were used to the canned stuff all loved it! I can’t wait to use the leftovers on turkey sandwiches.”
What You’ll Need To Make Cranberry Pecan Relish
- Fresh Cranberries: As the star of the recipe, cranberries bring a vibrant tartness that defines the relish, while their natural pectin helps thicken the mixture as they cook down.
- Pure Maple Syrup: This natural sweetener balances the cranberries’ tartness, adding a rich, earthy sweetness that elevates the overall flavor without being too sugary.
- Chopped Pecans: The toasted pecans introduce a satisfying crunch and a warm, nutty flavor that contrasts beautifully with the softness of the cooked cranberries.
- Orange Zest: The grated zest provides a fragrant, citrusy brightness that lifts the richness of the syrup and cranberries, adding a refreshing burst of flavor.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Its subtle acidity enhances the sweetness of the syrup and cranberries, while adding a layer of complexity and a slightly tangy finish to the relish.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Combine the cranberries and syrup in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil.
Let them bubble gently, stirring often, until the skins on the cranberries have all split and the mixture has thickened, 4 to 5 minutes (cover the pan with a lid if the cranberries splatter).
Eyeball them, and if some of the berries don’t burst, press them gently against the side of the pan with the back of your spoon to pop them, being careful to avoid hot splatters.
While the berries are cooking, put the pecans in a small, dry skillet, and stir them over medium heat until they are fragrant and lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
When the cranberry mixture has thickened, take it off the heat and stir in the orange zest, vinegar, and pecans. Mix well.
Serve warm or transfer to a covered container and chill.
Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions
The relish will keep nicely for 10 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. The relish can also be frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
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Cranberry Pecan Relish
Flavored with maple syrup, orange zest, and balsamic vinegar, this nutty cranberry relish is a delicious alternative to cranberry sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 (12-oz) bag fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Combine the cranberries and syrup in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Let them bubble gently, stirring often, until the skins on the cranberries have all split and the mixture has thickened, 4 to 5 minutes (cover the pan with a lid if the cranberries splatter). If some of the berries don't burst, press them gently against the side of the pan with the back of your spoon to pop them, being careful to avoid hot splatters.
- While the berries are cooking, put the pecans in a small, dry skillet, and stir them over medium heat until they are fragrant and lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
- When the cranberry mixture has thickened, take it off the heat and stir in the orange zest, vinegar, and pecans. Mix well. Serve warm or transfer to a covered container and chill.
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The relish will keep for 10 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Serving size: Approximately 3 tablespoons
- Calories: 137
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Sugar: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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This recipe was a hit at the holidays (even though it was just my husband and me)! The sweet of the maple syrup balances the tartness of the berries. There was even enough for me to freeze some of it!
THis is a great tasting “relish”,made as suggested, to add to to any simple carrot soup or squash soup. I add a dollop on top of the soup and have gotten rave reviews. I always buy extra fresh cranberries in season and freeze because they usually wont be available after Christmas.
This is a fantastic relish recipe – made it for Thanksgiving and it was the best Cranberry recipe I’ve tried. I wanted to eat it all myself! An excellent addition to a meal
I love, love, love this Cranberry Relish! I eat cranberry sauce every day with my greek yogurt in the morning with other fruit. This is a very tangy and interesting combo and easy to prepare that I will include in my cranberry rotation. I also had it with Turkey leg Ballontine, and actually prefer it to a sweeter relish for meat.
Made this for Thanksgiving and it has become our go-to recipe for a cranberry relish from now on. Quick, simple and tastes really great. The orange zest really brightens up the dish.
I love making this one. We use it like a spread for rotis and rolls. I double the recipe generally.
I make this all the time and usually pair it with some sort of jerked meat. I’ve even made it with monk fruit instead of sugar and it’s always delicious. Feel free to add some nutmeg, cinnamon, and/or clove for a mix-up of flavour. Delicious!
We are both in our 80s and rather set in our ways. A new recipe is looked at suspiciously. However, the pecan cranberry relish had to be good with those ingredients. For me, I loved the crunchiness and maple flavor. We ate half of it for a week and froze the rest. The lesson to learn is you are never too old to try something new. This will be a keeper. Thank you.
i see that i have written two reviews for same recipe. i guess i must have liked it.
LOL
I made this sauce at Christmas to go with the turkey, we had lots left over so used it like jam on toast or with various cheeses. So simple to make but delicious. I enjoy making your recipes so I bought your cookbook!
I made this for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So good! I had a little left after the holiday, and put it on toast.
I have been looking for a good cranberry relish for years and tried many, but never was satisfied. I made your recipe at thanksgiving, and it was so amazing! Just the right amount of sweetness mixed with the tart cranberries, but not too sweet and the perfect flavor to go with a bit of turkey or dressing! I also loved the leftovers on our after thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. Thank you!!!