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Home » Side Dish

Orange Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

Published: Nov 23, 2020 · Modified: Jan 30, 2021 by Ash, The Grocery Addict · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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If you're thinking about doing your Thanksgiving spread a little differently this year, you're not alone. This bright and tangy alternative to the super sweet cranberry sauce of my youth is the perfect foil for a non-traditional turkey dinner. This Orange Cranberry Jalapeño Relish also makes a great appetizer when paired with crackers and cream cheese.

up close shot of cranberry jalapeño relish after it macerated overnight

Fresh cranberries, orange supremes, pungent red onions, bright mint and spicy jalapeño come together for a fresh twist on cranberry sauce that is out of this world. This slightly spicy cranberry relish recipe is a far cry from the canned stuff you're used to and goes beautifully with my internationally inspired Thanksgiving menu.

Jump to:
  • How to Make Cranberry Jalapeño Relish
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Need more holiday recipe inspiration? Check out these other yummy ideas:
  • Orange Cranberry Jalapeño Relish
  • 💬 Reviews

2020 has been anything but predictable. For the holiday season this year, I figured I should follow suit. While some of the elements of my holiday spread are similar to days of yore - turkey, cranberries and sweet potatoes are all making an appearance - the overall flavor profile is decidedly not.

This year, we're going bold and spicy for our two-person Thanksgiving dinner. North African harissa paste, Indian tandoori spices and Levantine tahini are all making their debut on our holiday menu in 2020.

tandoori roasted turkey breast with harissa maple sweet potato tian, kale and chickpea salad and cranberry jalapeño relish on grey plate

Cranberry sauce and Thanksgiving are inextricably tied in my mind. I literally eat it just once a year with my turkey dinner. In an effort to concoct a cranberry sauce that would fit in with my non-traditional menu, I opted to go more "relish" than "jam." There is far less sugar in this riff, and you don't have to do a lick of cooking.

The result is bright, tart, spicy and barely sweet. And it is absolutely divine. If you're looking for a simple way to change your menu, look no further than this Orange Cranberry Jalapeño Relish.

How to Make Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

I love this spicy cranberry relish recipe because it requires exactly zero cooking. It comes together in just a few minutes and gets better as it rests and the flavors meld.

fresh mint, minced jalapeños, minced red onion, orange zest, orange supremes and fresh cranberries as mis en place for cranberry jalapeño relish

First up, prepare your orange. You'll want to remove the zest first, then use a sharp knife to peel the orange. Using the same sharp knife, cut the oranges into supremes. Each supreme should then be cut into 3-4 pieces. Use your hands to squeeze the last bit of juice from the body of the orange.

cranberries in bowl of food processor with remaining relish ingredients to the side

Next, mince your jalapeño and red onion quite fine. Roughly chop your mint leaves, leaving behind all woody stems.

cranberries that have been processed in food processor to medium chunks

TIP: If you aren't a big fan of spicy foods, remove the seeds and white membrane from the jalapeño prior to mincing. Most of the capsaicin lives in the seeds and membranes!

sugar sprinkled on chopped cranberries in bowl of food processor

Finally, prepare your cranberries. Bust out your food processor and pulse rinsed cranberries until roughly chopped. Top with sugar and process 1-2 more times to combine.

processed cranberries in white bowl with minced red onion on a wooden table with a red spatula

Stir all ingredients together and allow to macerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make cranberry relish ahead of time?

You sure can! This cranberry jalapeño relish tastes best when it has had a bit of time to marinate. You can make it up to a day ahead. If you want to make it even further in advance, you can make the mix and omit the mint. This unfinished relish should last for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Mix in the mint an hour or so before serving to keep the color vibrant.

What if I want to add a little heat to the cranberry sauce?

You're speaking our language! For the bold among you, feel free to add more finely diced jalapeño to the mix. Remember that most of the capsaicin lives in the seeds and membranes of the peppers, so remove them if you're not looking for too much heat.

What if I can't find fresh cranberries?

Fresh cranberries are definitely the best option for this relish, however, who knows what kind of supply chain issues grocery stores are going to face this year. If you can't find fresh, the next best option is frozen. Alternatively, you could also opt to use pomegranate arils instead, though the consistency and flavor will be a bit different.

What kind of orange should I get?

In my opinion, a simple naval orange will do the trick. If you're feeling fancy or really want to embrace the color red, opt for a blood orange instead.

completed jalapeño cranberry relish in white bowl

Need more holiday recipe inspiration? Check out these other yummy ideas:

  • Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal
  • Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattés
  • Maple Harissa Sweet Potato Tian
  • Winter Salad with Massaged Kale, Crispy Chickpeas and Roasted Garlic Tahini Dressing

Did you try this Orange Cranberry Jalapeño Relish recipe? Comment below to let me know how it turned out for you!

If you liked this recipe and want more delicious ideas delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for my email newsletter. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook to get more yummy recipe ideas in your feed.

cranberry jalapeño relish in a white oblong bowl with a silver serving spoon on a wooden surface

Orange Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

Adapted from Bon Appetit. This bright, fresh and slightly spicy take on traditional Thanksgiving cranberry sauce is a welcome addition to our dinner table. This recipe requires no cooking and has a fraction of the sugar of the regular old stuff!
4.73 from 11 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Macerating Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine Fusion
Servings 10
Calories 51 kcal

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Chef's Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Mixing Bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag Fresh Cranberries
  • 1 Orange zested and cut into supremes, then chopped
  • ⅓ C Sugar
  • ½ medium Red Onion minced
  • 1-2 Jalapeños minced
  • ¼ C Fresh Mint roughly chopped

Instructions
 

  • Prepare all ingredients by washing and cutting per instructions above.
  • Add cranberries to bowl of food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse a few times until the cranberries are roughly chopped.
  • Add sugar to cranberries and pulse 1-2 more times.
  • Stir sugared cranberries with remaining ingredients. Allow to macerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Serve with entrée of choice. Enjoy!

Notes

  • If you want to make the relish more than a day ahead of time, add all ingredients except mint. It should keep in the fridge for up to a week. Add mint prior to serving for optimal color.
  • For a lower glycemic impact, feel free to substitute agave for the sugar.
  • Add more jalapeños for more heat. Remove jalapeño seeds and membranes for less heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 67mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 113IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Easy, Fall, Fast, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthy, Vegan
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    4.73 from 11 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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  1. Brigitte says

    November 23, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    5 stars
    Hands down my favorite adaption of this recipe!

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      November 28, 2022 at 6:22 pm

      Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 💛💛💛

      Reply
  2. Heather Englund says

    November 03, 2023 at 9:43 am

    5 stars
    This was the perfect compliment to my chicken! I'm excited to make it for thanksgiving too. A fun twist for cranberry sauce that I just loooooved!

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      November 05, 2023 at 11:57 am

      This makes me so happy! I'm glad you loved it as much as we do!!

      Reply
      • Camilia Kyle says

        December 19, 2024 at 6:19 pm

        This was amazing !!!

        Reply
      • Camilia Kyle says

        December 19, 2024 at 6:22 pm

        This was amazing !!! I used brown sugar and honey and a little orange juice ! My husband and I are Jalapeño people so this is a great compliment ! Thanks

        Reply
        • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

          December 21, 2024 at 1:25 pm

          Thank you, Camilia!! I'm so glad you liked it. My hubby and I are jalapeño fans too—spice is the spice of life lol! Your tweaks sound awesome.

          Reply
  3. Chelsea says

    November 13, 2023 at 5:39 pm

    5 stars
    Ooh, this looks like such a great variation on the traditional cranberry sauce! Do I need to seed the jalapenos before pulsing them?
    Thanks!
    Chelsea

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      November 18, 2023 at 12:26 pm

      Hey Chelsea! You can leave the seeds in if you like a lot of spice. However, if you want a more mild flavor, carefully remove the seeds and white membranes inside the jalapeños first. Just make sure to wash your hands very thoroughly before touching your face or using the restroom! The capsacin makes more than just your tongue tingle. 😬

      Reply

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Hey y'all! My name is Ashley, and I'm the Grocery Addict. I'm here to share my best time saving tips, money saving tricks and store bought grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. All of my recipes are designed for real, busy people - like you! - who want to eat healthy, homemade food on a tight budget. I can't wait to see you in the kitchen!

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