Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

For those who turn their nose at traditional cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, you must try this Cranberry Jalapeno Relish. It's a fun twist on classic cranberry sauce, made with fresh jalapeños, juicy cranberries, lime juice, cilantro, brown sugar, and spices for a zingy, slightly spicy condiment.

A food processor is all you need to make this super easy, no-cook condiment! Toss all the ingredients in, give it a few pulses, and let it chill in the fridge while the flavors come together. It's perfect for pairing with a Thanksgiving Turkey, Crockpot Boneless Turkey Breast, or dressing up Leftover Turkey Tacos!

You don’t just have to stick with dressing up turkey, though! There are tons of ways to use this relish. You can serve it as a dip with crackers or pita chips for an elegant appetizer! Another option is to serve it over brie, goat, or cream cheese for a more decadent twist. This recipe is super flexible for whatever your heart desires!

Why You'll Love This Relish

This relish recipe will become your new favorite holiday obsession. Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Make-ahead friendly: Once you make this delicious relish, it'll last in the fridge for up to one week!
• Customizable: The flavors in this recipe are easily adjustable to your preferences.
• Versatile: You can use it on anything where you want a tart and tangy flavor, especially during the holidays!
• Unique: Spicy jalapeños paired with tart cranberries and zesty lime juice produce a balanced, unique flavor you won't be able to get enough of!

Ingredients and Substitutions

With a handful of ingredients, you can whip up this recipe in a flash! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fresh cranberries: These are the tart base of the relish! I recommend using fresh as dried cranberries won't have the same juiciness or tartness. But you could also use frozen cranberries, too! Just make sure they’re defrosted and drained before making the relish.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a bright herbal flavor to the relish! If you're not a fan of cilantro, you can leave it out or use parsley or basil instead.
• Green onions: These add a mild onion flavor. Feel free to swap them with red onions or shallots if you like!
• Jalapeño peppers: I recommend seeding and deveining the peppers for less heat. If you prefer more heat, leave the seeds and veins in or swap in serrano peppers. 
• Brown sugar: Balances out the acidity from the lime and heat from the peppers. You could also use maple syrup, honey, or regular sugar if you prefer.
• Lime: Fresh lime juice adds a hit of zingy flavor, brightening up the relish and balancing out the heat. If you don't have fresh lime juice, you can use bottled or lemon juice.
• Fresh ginger: Adds a bright fresh flavor! If you don't have fresh, you can use ground ginger instead.
• Cumin (optional): Adds a nutty, earthy flavor. If you're not a fan of cumin, feel free to leave it out.

How To Make Cranberry Jalapeño Relish

It only takes 5 minutes to whip up this tasty condiment. Here’s a list of what you need to do:

1. Prep and Pulse

Throw the cranberries, cilantro, green onions, and jalapeños into your food processor. Pulse a few times until it's chopped but still has some texture.

Pro tip: Pulse the mixture instead of setting the food processor to the continuous blending setting. You don't want pureed cranberry relish – just pulsed to chop things up!

2. Mix in the Goodness

Transfer the cranberry mixture to a bowl and mix in the brown sugar, lime juice, ginger, and salt. This combo really elevates the flavors!

Pro tip: Taste and adjust the relish as needed to suit your preferences!

3. Chill and Serve

Cover your bowl and let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours to let the flavors meld beautifully.

Storage

Storing cranberry jalapeno relish is easy-peasy. Here’s how to do it:

Once you make this recipe, it’ll last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week!

Can I simmer this relish?

Yes! Although this relish recipe is not cooked, you can totally simmer it in a saucepan for an extra depth of flavor and caramelization. Here's how to do it:

1. Saucepan: Toss all the ingredients into a small saucepan and let it simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
2. Cilantro: Add the cilantro at the end and let it cool.

How to Serve This Relish Recipe

Here are some other ways we've enjoyed this relish:

• Cream cheese dip: Spread a layer of softened cream cheese on a plate and top with the cranberry relish to make Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip! Serve with crackers or pretzels to scoop up all that spicy, tangy goodness.
• Tacos: I love using this relish to garnish my Leftover Turkey Tacos for a spicy, tart finish!
• Sandwiches: Make a leftover turkey sandwich and spread this on top for a fun twist.
• Turkey: Make some Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin or Baked Turkey Tenderloin with a side of this relish for a little bite!
• Pork: This tart relish would be perfect paired alongside Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin or Grilled Pork Chops!
• Chicken: Jazz up classic Grilled Chicken Breasts or Rosemary Chicken with this spicy, tart condiment!

Make It Your Own

Want to switch things up? Here are a few creative ways to make this recipe your own:

• Zest: For extra zing, add a sprinkle of lime zest to the relish!
• Citrus: Adding an orange peel or orange zest to give the relish a slightly sweeter flavor profile.
• Heat: If jalapeno peppers don't provide enough heat, feel free to use Serrano peppers instead!
• Vinegar: Swap the lime juice with apple cider vinegar for a less tangy flavor.