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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- Preparation: Rinse cranberries under cool water, ensuring they are clean and debris-free.
- Processing: Chop cranberries coarsely in a food processor or with a sharp knife until reaching a rough, chunky texture.
- Combining Base: Transfer chopped cranberries to a saucepan, incorporating lime zest and granulated sugar, then add water to help sugar dissolve.
- 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.
- Cooling and Flavor Development: Remove from heat and let mixture rest for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and temperature to stabilize.
- Enhancing Complexity: Fold in finely diced red onions, minced jalapeno peppers, salt, and fresh lime juice, blending ingredients thoroughly.
- Finishing Touch: Incorporate freshly chopped cilantro, then taste and adjust seasoning, balancing sweetness, tartness, and heat as preferred.
- 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