Description
Ina Garten’s make-ahead cranberry sauce elevates holiday gatherings with its rich, tangy flavor profile. Homemade cranberry sauce delivers superior taste compared to canned versions, offering fresh ingredients and authentic New England charm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 350 grams (12.35 oz) sugar
- 1 bag (340 grams / 12 oz) fresh cranberries, cleaned
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1 orange, grated zest and juice
- 1 lemon, grated zest and juice
- 240 milliliters (8 fl oz / 1 cup) water
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a medium saucepan over low heat, creating a gentle cooking environment.
- Initial Cooking: Simmer the mixture, allowing cranberry skins to burst and split, developing a rich, vibrant base for approximately 5-7 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Flavor Enhancement: Fold in chopped apples, orange zest, orange juice, lemon zest, and lemon juice, integrating these complementary ingredients to build a complex flavor profile.
- Final Reduction: Continue cooking the sauce over low heat for 12-15 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent scorching and ensure a smooth, cohesive texture.
- Cooling and Resting: Remove from heat, letting the compote cool naturally at room temperature to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
- Storage and Serving: Transfer to a clean glass container, refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour to chill thoroughly, and serve as a versatile accompaniment to various dishes, presenting a bright, tangy condiment that complements roasted meats and holiday fare.
Notes
- Burst Berries Technique: Gently simmer cranberries until skins naturally split, which releases pectin and creates perfect sauce texture without mashing.
- Zest Magic: Freshly grated citrus zests intensify flavor profile, adding bright, aromatic notes that elevate the traditional cranberry sauce.
- Make-Ahead Advantage: Prepare sauce up to 5 days in advance, allowing flavors to deepen and develop complex taste while saving precious holiday cooking time.
- Temperature Transformation: Cooling sauce at room temperature before refrigerating helps ingredients meld, creating a more balanced and rich condiment.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 168
- Sugar: 43 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg