Spicy-Sweet Cranberry Jalapeño Relish Recipe: A Flavor Fiesta

Spice lovers adore this tangy cranberry jalapeño relish that delivers a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.

Bursting with bold jalapeño flavor, this homemade relish adds incredible zest to your holiday spread.

The combination of tart cranberries and fiery peppers creates a mouthwatering condiment that wakes up every bite.

Sharp and bright, this recipe brings an unexpected kick to traditional side dishes.

Fresh ingredients blend seamlessly to create a condiment that’s both vibrant and irresistible.

You’ll love how quickly this relish comes together, making it an easy addition to your festive table.

Serve this relish and watch your guests reach for seconds with excitement.

Serving Zesty Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

• Pair with Holiday Proteins: Serve this zesty relish alongside roasted turkey, glazed ham, or grilled chicken for a vibrant flavor boost during festive meals.
• Create Appetizer Spread: Spread the relish on cream cheese-topped crackers or use as a dip with tortilla chips for a quick and exciting party appetizer.
• Elevate Sandwich Game: Add a spoonful to turkey sandwiches, pulled pork, or grilled cheese to transform ordinary lunch fare into a tangy, spicy sensation.
• Fresh Salad Topper: Sprinkle over mixed green salads or use as a bright, zingy dressing to add unexpected depth and complexity to your greens.

Keep Cranberry Jalapeño Relish Fresh Longer

• Refrigerate Quickly: Store the zesty cranberry jalapeno relish in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator within 2 hours of preparation to maintain optimal freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Extend Flavor Lifespan: Keep the relish refrigerated for up to 5-7 days, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify over time. The spicy and tangy notes will continue to develop, creating an even more delicious condiment.
• Freeze for Future Enjoyment: Transfer the relish to freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags, leaving a small space for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months, ensuring you have a tasty accompaniment ready for spontaneous gatherings or quick meal enhancements.
• Serve at the Perfect Temperature: Remove the relish from the refrigerator about 15 minutes before serving to let the flavors bloom and reach a more palate-friendly temperature. Stir gently before presenting to redistribute any settled ingredients and revive the vibrant color and texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 58 kcal

Servings: 9

Zesty Cranberry Jalapeño Relish Ingredients

• Cranberries: Bright, tart berries that create the vibrant base of the relish, offering a tangy punch and beautiful deep red color.
• Lime: Adds zesty brightness and helps balance the sweetness, bringing a crisp citrus note to the relish.

• Jalapenos: Delivers a spicy kick that adds depth and excitement to the relish, choose firm peppers with a vibrant green color.
• Onions: Provides a sharp, pungent undertone that complements the cranberries' sweetness, select fresh crisp onions for the best flavor.
• Cilantro: Introduces a fresh, herbal brightness that lifts the entire dish, look for bright green leaves without wilting.

• Granulated Sugar: Softens the cranberries' tartness and creates a smooth, glossy texture in the relish.
• Salt: Enhances and balances all the flavors, bringing out the individual taste notes of each ingredient.
• Water: Helps create the right consistency and aids in cooking the cranberries to perfect tenderness.
• Lime Juice: Adds a final bright, acidic touch that pulls all the flavors together and provides a fresh finish.

Tools to Prep Zesty Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

• Food processor: Essential for quickly chopping cranberries to the right consistency.
• Small saucepan: Perfect for cooking and combining cranberry mixture with sugar and water.
• Cutting board: Needed for chopping onions, jalapenos, and cilantro.
• Sharp knife: Crucial for precise dicing and chopping ingredients.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients during cooking.
• Measuring spoons: Helps add exact amounts of sugar, salt, and lime juice.
• Lime zester or grater: Useful for zesting lime without bitter white pith.
• Mixing bowl: Helpful for combining final ingredients and adjusting seasoning.

How to Make Zesty Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

• Cranberry Crush

Grab a handful of bright red cranberries and give them a rough chop or quick pulse in a food processor. The goal is a chunky texture that’ll bring excitement to your dish.

• Sweet and Tangy Base

Combine chopped cranberries with sugar in a saucepan. Let them dance together over medium heat, creating a vibrant, bubbling mixture that’ll make your kitchen smell amazing.

• Flavor Explosion

After cooling slightly, introduce diced onions and fiery jalapenos to the cranberry mix. Squeeze in some zesty lime juice for a bright, punchy kick that’ll wake up your taste buds.

• Herbal Harmony

Sprinkle in fresh cilantro leaves just before serving. This final touch adds a burst of garden-fresh flavor that ties everything together in a delightful culinary symphony.

• Taste Adventure

Take a moment to sample your creation. Feel free to adjust the heat, sweetness, or tang until it sings exactly the way you want. This relish is your flavor playground!

Tips to Balance Heat in Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

• Control the spiciness by removing jalapeno seeds for a milder relish or keeping them in for extra kick. Alternatively, swap jalapenos with serrano or poblano peppers to experiment with different pepper intensities.
• Prepare this relish up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container. The flavors will develop and deepen, creating an even more complex taste profile as it sits in the refrigerator.
• Sterilize glass jars and can the relish for longer storage, transforming it into a fantastic holiday gift or pantry staple. Sealed properly, the relish can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
• Pair this zesty relish with roasted turkey, grilled chicken, or use as a vibrant topping for tacos, sandwiches, and charcuterie boards. Its bright, tangy flavor complements both rich and light dishes beautifully.
• For a chunkier relish, chop ingredients by hand instead of using a food processor. Want a smoother consistency? Blend the mixture briefly to achieve your desired texture without losing the fresh ingredient character.

Bold Cranberry Jalapeno Relish Recipe

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4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Homemade zesty cranberry jalapeño relish brings Mexican-inspired heat to classic holiday condiments. Tangy cranberries and spicy peppers combine for a quick, flavorful accompaniment you can enjoy with roasted meats or as a festive spread.

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Ingredients

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• 12 oz (340 g) fresh cranberries
• ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
• 1 lime; zested and juiced
• ¼ cup onion; very finely diced
• 1 or 2 jalapenos; very finely diced, depending on heat preference
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tbsps water
• ⅓ cup chopped cilantro

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Rinse cranberries under cool water, ensuring they are clean and debris-free.
2. Processing: Chop cranberries coarsely in a food processor or with a sharp knife until reaching a rough, chunky texture.
3. Combining Base: Transfer chopped cranberries to a saucepan, incorporating lime zest and granulated sugar, then add water to help sugar dissolve.
4. Cooking: Heat mixture over medium temperature, stirring periodically to prevent sticking and promote even cooking, bringing to a gentle simmer until small bubbles appear around edges.
5. Cooling and Flavor Development: Remove from heat and let mixture rest for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and temperature to stabilize.
6. Enhancing Complexity: Fold in finely diced red onions, minced jalapeno peppers, salt, and fresh lime juice, blending ingredients thoroughly.
7. Finishing Touch: Incorporate freshly chopped cilantro, then taste and adjust seasoning, balancing sweetness, tartness, and heat as preferred.
8. Serving: Chill or serve at room temperature as a versatile condiment or vibrant accompaniment to various culinary creations.

Notes

• Prevent Over-Processing: Pulse cranberries gently to maintain a chunky texture, avoiding a mushy consistency that can compromise the relish’s fresh appeal.
• Balance Heat Levels: Adjust jalapeno quantity based on personal spice tolerance, removing seeds for milder flavor or including them for extra kick.
• Maximize Flavor Development: Allow relish to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving, enabling ingredients to meld and intensify taste profiles.
• Smart Storage Strategy: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days, noting that flavors will continue to deepen and blend over time.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Mexican-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 58
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 52 mg
• Fat: 0.3 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg