A Cranberry Orange Relish Recipe That Requires No Cooking

Cranberry orange relish is a mixture of fresh cranberries and some type of orange flavor, either from orange zest, orange juice, orange peel, or a combination of all three. Other flavorings, like jalapeño and fresh ginger, can add spice and a contrasting flavor to the sweetness and tartness of the fresh cranberry and orange. You can serve this type of relish as a condiment to many dishes.

Cranberry orange relish differs from cranberry sauce in that cranberry sauce is usually smoother, with few or no chunks of fruit. A relish is chunkier than most cranberry sauces. Also, a cranberry orange relish does not usually require cooking, whereas a cranberry sauce does. A cranberry orange sauce would have all the flavors of a cranberry orange relish, but it might be thinner if you blend it until it’s smooth or set it with gelatin or agar agar. However, you might see people use the terms cranberry orange relish and cranberry orange sauce interchangeably.

Cranberry orange relish is a versatile condiment you can serve alongside sweet or savory dishes. Here are five ways you can consider using cranberry orange relish:

1. 1. As a side dish: Canned cranberry sauce serves as a side dish on many traditional Thanksgiving tables, so there’s no reason a cranberry orange relish can’t serve the same purpose. Eat it alongside stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and other classic Thanksgiving dinner dishes.
2. 2. Atop a casserole: Top a classic sweet potato or butternut squash casserole with cranberry orange relish and chopped pecans. Both sweet potatoes and butternut squash have their own sweetness, which the relish complements nicely.
3. 3. In a cheese ball: A cheese ball is a classic appetizer, the flavor of which you can switch up depending on the season or occasion. Mix homemade cranberry orange relish in with the cream cheese mixture or brush it on the outside of the cheese ball before you roll the whole thing in chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts.
4. 4. On top of cheesecake: Whether it’s a New York–style cream cheese cheesecake or a savory cheesecake (with fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil), cranberry orange relish spread can add a sweet and tart flavor. Spread the relish on top of the cheesecake or swirl it into the batter.
5. 5. Spread on a sandwich: Use the relish itself between bread or mix it with mayonnaise for a spread that can enhance turkey sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches, pork tenderloin sandwiches, and others. The sweetness from the oranges and the tartness of the cranberries will balance out the fatty flavors of most meats.