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Spicy Cranberry Chutney

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 20, 2011

Time

45 minutes, plus 1 hour cooling

Yield

Serves 12 (Makes about 3 cups)

Spicy Cranberry Chutney

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 shallot, minced1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch pieces2 jalapeño chiles, seeded and minced½ teaspoon salt ¾ cup water ¼ cup cider vinegar 1 cup packed brown sugar 12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries

Before You Begin

If using frozen cranberries, thaw them before cooking.

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until just shimmering. Add shallot, pepper, jalapeño, and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until shallot has softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add water, vinegar, and sugar. Increase heat to high and bring to simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add 1½ cups cranberries; return to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have almost completely broken down and mixture has thickened, about 15 minutes.
  3. Add remaining 1½ cups cranberries; continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to burst, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to serving bowl and cool for at least 1 hour before serving. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.)

Spicy Cranberry Chutney

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

45 minutes, plus 1 hour cooling

Yield

Serves 12 (Makes about 3 cups)

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 shallot, minced
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch pieces
2 jalapeño chiles, seeded and minced
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup water
¼ cup cider vinegar
1 cup packed brown sugar
12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 shallot, minced
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch pieces
2 jalapeño chiles, seeded and minced
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup water
¼ cup cider vinegar
1 cup packed brown sugar
12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 shallot, minced
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into ¼-inch pieces
2 jalapeño chiles, seeded and minced
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup water
¼ cup cider vinegar
1 cup packed brown sugar
12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries

Why This Recipe Works

There’s nothing wrong with the simplicity of a plain old sweet-tart cranberry sauce made with back-of-the-bag instructions, but sometimes we want more. To create a more complexly flavored sauce, we looked to Indian chutneys. Adding vinegar, aromatics, and spices to slow-cooked cranberries and fruit yielded a jammy relish with kick and savor.

Before You Begin

If using frozen cranberries, thaw them before cooking.

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until just shimmering. Add shallot, pepper, jalapeño, and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until shallot has softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add water, vinegar, and sugar. Increase heat to high and bring to simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add 1½ cups cranberries; return to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have almost completely broken down and mixture has thickened, about 15 minutes.
  3. Add remaining 1½ cups cranberries; continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to burst, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to serving bowl and cool for at least 1 hour before serving. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.)

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