Zesty Cranberry Sauce
For Thanksgiving 2020, I wanted to make a recipe that would go good on just about anything. Even more I wanted to make something everyone is familiar with around this American holiday: cranberry sauce. It’s a tangy, sour, and lemony sauce that usually comes in jello form from a can. I put this on my turkey every year. But like always, I wanted something that came right from home jello-free. I’ve been told that cranberry sauce is usually a hit or miss. Some people love it and others can’t stand the gelatin delight of it. In all honesty, I was always in between until this year.
I followed a cranberry recipe by Love & Lemons to start off with and customized it some more. At first, it was a little sour and I dared to add another 1/2 cup of maple syrup and waited about 25 minutes while it cooked on simmer. The texture came out exactly as I wanted: smooth, thick, and gelatin free, and borders right between sweet and sour giving an awesome kick to just about many different recipes like poultry, sandwiches, salads, oatmeal, pancakes, pastry, you name it! The sweet-tart and jammy flavor really will keep you away from the can and is quick and easy to make.
You’ll need cranberries (frozen of fresh will do), maple syrup to add some sweetness, orange zest for some tang, water to break it down, and a pinch of salt to bring out all the flavors. I added vanilla extract to add some warm aromas but this is completely optional. I’ve also added a good amount of maple syrup just to keep it a little more on the sweet side but without compromising some of the sour taste.
I then poured all the ingredients right into a medium sized pot and brought it up to boil while stirring. I left it alone on simmer for a total of 25 minutes until most of the berries burst. It’s always good to test out the taste with a spoon each time and adjust to your what you anticipate it to taste like. I’ve mentioned before that I was aiming for something sweet and bold which required me to add more maple syrup and some orange zest. Feel free todo the math by adding, subtracting, or dividing any ingredients from this recipe!
The best part about this quick and easy recipe is that it goes so well on may things. I’ve tried this with cream cheese on toast and unbelievably delicious. Keep this recipe refrigerated 5-6 days after making it and you’ll enjoy the benefits of its adaptability.
Zesty Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
4 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tsp orange zest, plus more to garnish
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
A pinch of salt
Instructions
In a medium pot, pour in all contents under medium to high heat. Stir until it boils to prevent from the maple sticking.
Bring it down to simmer for 20-25 minutes.
Serve in a bowl or container and enjoy with sandwiches, turkey, and all your thanksgiving meals including leftovers. Happy Thanksgiving!
