Cranberry-Pomegranate Relish Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is pomegranate cranberry good for? ›

To make-ahead: Cranberry relish can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. To freeze: Store cranberry relish in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. To use, remove it from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator.

The best part is that this cranberry relish recipe doesn't require any cooking! On the contrary, cranberry sauce is made with cranberries (and only sometimes oranges!), a variety of spices, a good amount of sweetener, and a thickener, which is then cooked and stewed over the heat until jelly-like.

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

Water, cranberry juice, lemon water, herbal tea, green tea, homemade smoothies, vegetable juice, apple juice, cranberry or pomegranate juice, and coconut water are some of the top healthy drinks for individuals with kidney disease.

People have enjoyed pomegranates since ancient times for their health benefits. They have powerful antioxidants that can help protect the health of your heart, kidneys, and gut microbiome. They may also help protect you from Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and some cancers.

The homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium! Thankfully, buying cranberry sauce at the store is not the only option.

Simple appetizers

Top your favorite cracker with whipped cream cheese and a dollop of Cranberry Relish for the ultimate speedy starter. If you have a little more time you can try this Three-Ingredient Cranberry Relish Appetizer with white cheddar cheese.

"Resist adding granulated sugar—you won't get the full effect unless you reheat the sauce and the sugar dissolves," writes Kelsey Kloss. "Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste.

If you don't have maple syrup (pancake syrup WILL NOT do, y'all), try honey or a more neutral sweetener like agave syrup, brown rice syrup, or even simple syrup. All of these syrupy ingredients are a perfect quick fix for bitter cranberry sauce.

Do you heat up cranberry relish? ›

It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

Several studies indicate that cranberry helps prevent UTIs of the bladder and urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder), especially for women who have frequent UTIs. In one study of older women, cranberry juice reduced the amount of bacteria in the bladder compared to placebo.

Pomegranate can significantly improve hot flashes severity and menopause symptoms and decrease FSH. It significantly improves high-density lipoprotein but not low-density lipoprotein, body mass index, and weight.

Like pomegranates, berries contain polyphenols, and research has found that berry juice can lower blood pressure. Cranberry and cherry juices came out on top in one study.

Pomegranate juice may help lower blood pressure and protect the heart and arteries. An older research article from 2012 found that pomegranate juice could reduce oxidative stress in the cardiovascular system and lower the risk of: forming cholesterol.