Ah, but despite this knowledge and my dutiful consumption of Thanksgiving cranberry relish each year (on a separate plate, mind you—the sweet and the savory definitely do not mix on my personal platter), I retain a soft spot for the smoothly textured canned version of my youth—the one my grandma would let me stamp into turkey-shaped slices with a plastic cookie cutter. Oh, the way it slormped out of the can with that satisfyingly sucky noise. You could slurp it down easy with the same frisson of suction.
More than the hilarious and captivating noises or the Sour Patch Kid-esque overtones of its texture, there was just a little extra poppiness to the cranberry’s taste after it made the transition from raw to cooked. Something naturally sweeter, juicier, and brighter than its original state. Like the sweet caramelization of roasted applesauce, heat transformed the powerful tang of the punchy berries into a more layered and nuanced bite.
I won’t be exerting any dictatorial tendencies and demanding the removal of any raw relishes from our Thanksgiving table this year or in any seasons to come. I’m not inciting a revolution. But I am going to keep a jar of my own slow-simmered cranberries in the refrigerator for all the cold mornings ahead.
The following recipe is my ode to the Canadian bounty I recently brought back from the markets of Montreal, where I walked past bins overflowing with cranberries and towers of freshly canned sirop d’érable (that’s maple syrup for you non Francophones) at almost every turn. This jam-like spread could totally pass as a relish for the Big T, but I’m using it more as a breakfast spread for the whole winter. Zingy without too much adornment, it relies on the cranberries to bring the thunder.
Why lemon extract? Its concentrated flavor is purer and sweeter than that of lemon juice or zest, and I think it brings out the same sweet purity in the cranberries more effectively than the fresh stuff in this case. There’s already enough pucker power in this recipe—the extract enhances without adding too much more.
Oh, and P.S., here’s your horticultural lesson for the day: Cranberries grow on vines and don’t really need to be underwater all the time—farmers flood the beds to make harvest easier, since the acidic little buggers float. I’m boggled! (sorry. not really. I love a pun.)
Cranberry Spread
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Makes approximately 3 cups
Ingredients:
- 24 oz. (2 bags’ worth) fresh cranberries
- 12 oz. (1 1/2 cups) real maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
Method:
Rinse and drain the cranberries, then pour into a heavy-bottomed stockpot or Dutch oven along with 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally as the cranberries pop and soften.
After 10-15 minutes, when the cranberries are mostly liquefied, add the maple syrup. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 45 minutes to an hour. The cranberries will transform from a loose mush to a thick crimson jam.
Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon extract. Scoop into jars and allow to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. (If you’d like to store the spread unrefrigerated, sterilize and can the jars in a water bath.)
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Mmmmmm does this sound wonderful! For Turkkey Day, I’ve made a cooked “sauce” with whole berries, pineapple, and a hint of spice that I love, but I will definitely make this version and use it in the weeks ahead!!
I too have a soft spot for the canned version. My nan would serve it all the time, not just at Thanksgiving. It was a side dish to many a steak or turkey sandwich lunch. This looks just gorgeous though, Case. Yum!
Really like the sound of this recipe Case: healthy, fresh n pure. Like you, it’ll suit me as a tangy b/fast spread, maybe even porridge compote. Sending it on to my Mum for Crimbo accompaniment. Thanks a lot. S
Great Pictures
I love the sound of this spread! Gorgeous!
Beautiful photo from Montreal & the cranberries speak for themselves. As for the Turkey Day relish, I can’t be swayed, despite your references to those adorable cookie-cutter cranberry garnishes of your childhood. With great “relish”, I look forward to my version of processed cranberries, oranges, a hint of fresh lemon and sugar.
PS – I like the new look of GFS!
Raw cranberry relish, hey? I’ve found myself putting these tart, bright, bursts of flavor in everything lately: stewed apples, pear upside down cake, dried in quinoa salad…like the sound of your relish too.
Great recipe. I always make fresh cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, and it’s one of my favorite things, although it goes untouched by just about everyone else in my family. More for me, I say!