Spice up your charcuterie board or dress up your holiday dinner table with this orange cranberry pecan relish. This recipe is included in our Thanksgiving recipes, but it’s great for Christmas, too! With fresh cranberries, orange juice and chopped pecans, this relish pairs perfectly with any poultry or pork dish.

Move over jellied cranberry sauce; there’s a new, fresh recipe in town. This orange cranberry relish is made with fresh cranberries, pecans, orange zest, and a cranberry pear balsamic vinegar. This relish is perfect for dressing up your charcuterie board; it pairs perfectly with sharp cheese, or dress up your holiday table with the relish as a side dish to compliment any poultry or pork dish. This recipe is a little than one of my early orange cranberry sauce recipes. This relish is a bit thicker, more like a chutney, and features balsamic vinegar and pecans.

Ingredients needed

To make this orange cranberry pecan relish, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 16 oz. fresh cranberries
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup Olive Tree cranberry pear balsamic vinegar (If you’re unable to get this, I have a substitution listed below in the Recipe FAQs and Variations section.)
• 1 Tbsp. orange zest
• 1 cup chopped pecans

How to make orange cranberry pecan relish

1. Rinse the fresh cranberries and add to a large saucepan.
2. Add in the water, sugar, and orange juice.
3. Bring to a slow boil and boil for about 3-4 minutes, then lower heat to a simmer.
4. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries are cooked down and thickened.
5. Add in the cranberry pear balsamic vinegar and orange zest and simmer for another 1-2 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and add in the chopped pecans.
7. Top with additional orange zest before serving, if preferred.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

What is balsamic vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar is a reduction made from pressed grapes, typically Trebbiano or Lambrusco grapes. Olive Tree features high-quality balsamic vinegar that come from Modena, Italy. Their flavored vinegars are only flavored with natural ingredients and have no added sugar. The cranberry pear balsamic vinegar used in this recipe is thick and sweet, just as true balsamic vinegar should be. It also gives a nice punch to the orange cranberry relish.

What can I do with cranberry relish?

Orange cranberry relish can be served as a condiment or as a side dish. It would pair well on a charcuterie board alongside various sharp or aged cheese. On the main dinner table, the relish can be served as a side dish to enhance your poultry or pork dishes. How would you serve this orange cranberry relish this holiday season?

What is the difference between cranberry relish and cranberry sauce?

Cranberry sauce is usually cooked down and is sweeter, where cranberry relish can still be cooked but is more tart and chunky.

How long will fresh cranberry relish last?

You can store it in an airtight container for up to three weeks.

Recipe Variations

• If you cannot purchase the cranberry pear balsamic vinegar, you can swap in regular balsamic vinegar, but reduce the amount down to 2 Tbsp. Also, peel and core 1 fresh pear and chop it finely, then add with the cranberries.
• For a sweeter relish, omit the balsamic and/or increase the sugar by about 1 Tbsp.
• Omit the pecans if you have a nut allergy

Recommended kitchen tools for this recipe

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Add these additional recipes to your holiday menu!

• Sage, Fig, and Pancetta Stuffing – an elevated stuffing recipe your guests will love
• Honey Caramelized Brussel Sprouts – a sweet and tart vegetable side dish
• Thanksgiving Maple Herb Turkey – this orange cranberry relish would pair perfectly with this turkey recipe
• Red Wine Poached Pears – a simple yet elegant holiday dessert

Grab a copy of Gather – A Thanksgiving Cookbook to create a memorable holiday meal!

Orange Cranberry Relish Recipe: