What would Thanksgiving be without cranberry sauce? Of course it will be normal! While it's widely available in cans (complete with an opening ring), homemade cranberry sauce is a distinct delicacy. This sauce is very easy to make, and has a very delicious taste!
Ingredients
Method 1: Basic Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- 340 g fresh cranberries (one bag)
- 1-1/2 cups (375 ml) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (250 ml) water
Method 2: Sour Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- 340 g fresh cranberries (one bag)
- 1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (250 ml) orange juice
Method 3: Spicy Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- 340 g fresh cranberries (one bag)
- 1-1/2 cups (375 ml) granulated sugar
- 2-1/2 cups (600 ml) dry red wine. For best results, use the same type of wine that will be served at dinner.
- 4 tsp fresh ginger, chopped
- 3 tbsp ginger candy, chopped
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1/4 tsp five spice powder
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Step
Method 1 of 3: Basic Cranberry Sauce
Step 1. Wash and clean the cranberries
Put the cranberries in a colander, and wash them thoroughly, removing the leaves, stems, etc.
Step 2. Bring the water and sugar to a boil
Stir constantly, stirring around the edges of the pan to make sure all the sugar is dissolved.
Step 3. Turn off the heat and add the cranberries
Stir, and bring to a boil again. If you added other ingredients, now is the time. (note "Tips").
Step 4. Reduce the heat
Cook the sauce over low heat until the cranberries start to open. This process will take about 5 to 12 minutes.
Step 5. Cool
If you want the sauce to cool completely, put it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
Step 6. Serve
Cranberry sauce is usually served over beautifully decorated small dishes. Add a small spoonful of sauce for one serving of the dish.
Method 2 of 3: Sour Cranberry Sauce
Step 1. Wash and clean the cranberries
Put the cranberries in a colander, and wash them thoroughly, removing the leaves, stems, etc.
Step 2. Mix sugar and orange juice
Cook the orange juice over medium heat in a medium saucepan, and add the sugar. Stir constantly, stirring around the edges of the pan to make sure all the sugar is dissolved.
Step 3. Enter the cranberries
Stir and cook the sauce until the cranberries start to open. This process will take about 5 to 12 minutes.
Step 4. Let it cool
Put the sauce in a serving bowl, and let it cool. If you want the sauce to cool completely, put it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
Step 5. Serve and enjoy
Method 3 of 3: Spicy Cranberry Sauce
Step 1. Saute cranberries
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until it starts to shimmer.
Add the cranberries and stir, then add the chopped fresh ginger. Saute and stir until cranberries start to open – about 5 minutes
Step 2. Add wine
Add the wine, then add the sugar, stirring the edges of the pan to make sure all the sugar is dissolved. Cook until boiling.
Step 3. Bring the mixture to a boil
Let the mixture simmer, without covering, until reduced by 1/3 or 1/2-about 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4. Add spices
Add in the ginger candy pieces, curry powder, and five-spice powder and mix until combined.
Step 5. Remove from stove
Allow the sauce to cool to desired serving temperature, or refrigerate for 2 1/2 hours.
Step 6. Decorate
Add fresh tarragon or thinly sliced orange zest for garnish.
Tips
- Cranberry sauce can be frozen for up to a year. You can make a little more to store.
- One of the garnishes for cranberry sauce is diced mango. Use a ripe mango (slightly soft), then cut the flesh into cubes. The bright color of the mango will enhance the dark and thick color of the sauce.
- Another delicious variation is blueberries and some sultanas (white currants) along with chopped dried apricots that have been dissolved in a little brandy, port or hot water; Add it at the end of the cooking process. You can replace the sugar with honey, and season with coarsely chopped ginger sugar, garam masala, grated lemon zest, and a pinch of Jamaican pepper. It is also recommended that you use a few chopped walnuts. This version makes for a pretty jelly look, and is served on a clear glass plate.
- Cloves are a delicious complement to cranberry sauce. Add a little clove powder when the sauce boils.
- Don't think cranberry sauce only goes well with turkey. Try pairing the sauce with a brie sandwich or serving it with grilled ham.
- The Simple Recipe demonstrates the potential for adding complementary elements to spice up normal cranberry sauce. Complementary elements include chopped nuts (pecans), orange zest (orange or lemon), raisins or dried grapes, other berries such as blueberries or crowberries and traditional spices such as ginger, Jamaican pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Sciences suggests a good combination of fresh ginger and oranges in a traditional cranberry sauce – add freshly grated orange zest and 1/2 tsp of grated fresh ginger. They call it "Killer Cranberry Sauce"!
