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Cranberry Chutney with Fennel and Golden Raisins

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 20, 2011

Time

45 minutes, plus 1 hour cooling

Yield

Serves 10 to 12 (Makes about 3 cups)

Cranberry Chutney with Fennel and Golden Raisins

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 shallot, minced1 cored fennel bulb, cut into ¼-inch pieces½ teaspoon fennel seeds ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup water ¼ cup cider vinegar 1 cup packed brown sugar 12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries ⅓ cup golden raisins

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, fennel, fennel seeds, 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 and raisins; 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.)

Cranberry Chutney with Fennel and Golden Raisins

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

45 minutes, plus 1 hour cooling

Yield

Serves 10 to 12 (Makes about 3 cups)

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 shallot, minced
1 cored fennel bulb, cut into ¼-inch pieces
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup water
¼ cup cider vinegar
1 cup packed brown sugar
12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
⅓ cup golden raisins

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 shallot, minced
1 cored fennel bulb, cut into ¼-inch pieces
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup water
¼ cup cider vinegar
1 cup packed brown sugar
12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
⅓ cup golden raisins

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 shallot, minced
1 cored fennel bulb, cut into ¼-inch pieces
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup water
¼ cup cider vinegar
1 cup packed brown sugar
12 ounces (3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
⅓ cup golden raisins

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, fennel, fennel seeds, 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 and raisins; 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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