Description
This Cranberry Orange Relish is a fresh, tangy, and slightly sweet condiment perfect for holiday meals or any occasion that calls for a burst of vibrant flavor. Made with toasted walnuts, tart cranberries, a juicy navel orange with peel, sweet crisp apple, honey, and a splash of orange liqueur, this relish offers a unique blend of crunchy texture and fruity zest. It requires no cooking beyond toasting the nuts and comes together quickly in a food processor, making it an easy, make-ahead side dish or topping.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Relish Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shelled walnuts or pecans
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1 medium navel orange, skin included, scrubbed, and cut into chunks
- 1 medium sweet crisp apple (such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), washed with peel on, cut into chunks
- 1/3 cup mild honey (such as clover)
- 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier) – optional
Instructions
- Toast the Nuts: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the walnuts evenly on an ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes until lightly toasted and fragrant, watching carefully near the end to prevent burning. Remove from oven and transfer to a plate to cool completely. Refrigerate if you want to speed up the cooling.
- Process Fruits: In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, add the cranberries, orange chunks (with peel), and apple chunks. Pulse alternately between long and short bursts until the mixture is uniformly finely chopped but still retains a crunchy texture.
- Add Nuts and Mix: Add the cooled toasted walnuts to the food processor and pulse a few times to roughly chop them and incorporate into the mixture.
- Combine and Chill: Transfer the chopped mixture into a serving bowl. Stir in the honey and orange liqueur (if using) until well combined. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- For best texture, do not over-process the fruit mixture; aim for finely chopped but still crunchy.
- If you prefer, substitute pecans in place of walnuts for a slightly different nutty flavor.
- The orange liqueur is optional but adds a nice depth of citrus flavor.
- This relish can be made a day ahead to enhance flavor melding.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/9 of recipe (about 3 tablespoons)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
