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Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Chutney

This sweet and spicy cranberry chutney combines tart cranberries, apple, raisins, orange, warm spices, and adjustable chili heat in an easy one-pan recipe.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Condiment, Side
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 166

Ingredients
  

For the chutney
  • 12 oz cranberries, fresh or frozen (no need to thaw frozen) Choose firm and plump cranberries.
  • ½ cup raisins (any variety) Golden raisins, chopped dried apricots, or dried cherries can be used.
  • 1 large tart or tart-sweet apple (e.g., Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), peeled, cored, finely diced A firm pear can be substituted for a softer chutney.
  • 1 small yellow onion or shallot, finely chopped Shallot can provide a milder flavor.
  • 1 large jalapeño or serrano pepper Remove seeds for less heat.
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1½ tablespoons grated fresh ginger (from a 2-inch knob)
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup honey Maple syrup can be used as a substitute.
  • Zest from 2 oranges zest from 2 oranges
  • ⅓ cup fresh orange juice (from 2 oranges)
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice or ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, adjusted to taste
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, adjusted to taste Add less initially for milder heat.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Peel, core, and finely dice the apple. Chop the onion or shallot, mince the garlic, grate the ginger, and zest and juice the oranges. For less heat, remove the jalapeño or serrano seeds and inner ribs before chopping.
Cooking
  1. Add the water, vinegar, brown sugar, honey, onion, garlic, cranberries, apple, raisins, orange juice, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, jalapeño, and orange zest to a medium saucepan. Season with the salt and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
  2. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally so the fruit cooks evenly and does not stick to the bottom.
  3. Remove the lid and simmer for about 15 minutes more. Stir regularly as the liquid reduces. The chutney is ready when the fruit is soft and the mixture has thickened. Remember, it will become thicker as it cools.
Cooling and Serving
  1. Transfer the chutney to a bowl and let it cool to room temperature before serving or refrigerating. Serve it warm or chilled alongside savory dishes, or spoon it onto sandwiches and cheese.

Notes

Cool the chutney and refrigerate it for up to 10 days. You can make it ahead for holiday meals. Freeze for up to 2 months.