Asian Cranberry Sauce Recipe (With Orange And Ginger)

Cranberry sauce is a traditional condiment that adds a vibrant, tangy flavor to holiday meals, especially Thanksgiving holidays dinner. While the traditional turkey and cranberry sauce are classic staples of this festive feast, you can make this year's Thanksgiving dinner a little extra special with a unique twist—Asian Cranberry Sauce! The combination of traditional cranberry sauce with Asian-inspired spices and flavors adds a unique twist to your holiday meal. In this blog, I will explore an Asian-inspired twist on the traditional cranberry sauce, adding it with the warm flavors of ginger, five-spice, and orange. Read on:

Key ingredients

Raw cranberries:  with their tartness, they release a burst of flavor and a rich, deep red color!

White sugar: Cranberries are naturally very tart and can be quite sour on their own. Sugar is added to cranberry sauce to balance out this tartness and make the sauce more pleasant.

Water : Adding water to the cranberry sauce recipe helps to soften and cook the cranberries. It also helps prevent the cranberries from sticking to the pot and burning during the cooking process. 

Fresh squeezed orange juice: Orange juice has a refreshing and citrusy flavor. It makes the cranberry sauce pop with vibrant flavors. A large whole orange makes about a half cup orange juice.

Dried Chen pi: Dried Chen pi, also known as dried tangerine peel or aged tangerine peel, is a traditional Chinese ingredient made from the peel of tangerines or mandarin oranges. Dried Chen pi has a strong and aromatic citrus fragrance. It has a sweet and slightly bitter flavor and a little tangy. You can get Chen pi in Asian grocery stores. 

Fresh ginger: Ginger brings a warming kick and a hint of spice, complementing the tartness of cranberries. However, if fresh ginger is not available, ginger powder can be used as a substitute.

Chinese five-spice powder: It is a traditional Asian spice blend that adds an earthy and aromatic flavor that perfectly balances the sauce's sweetness. A must-have holiday-inspired spice for the sauce. 

Step-by-step instructions for the recipe

Making homemade cranberry sauce is a straightforward and delightful process. Here's a step-by-step guide to making Asian cranberry sauce:

Rinse the fresh cranberries under cold water, removing debris or damaged berries. Drain them well. Add the orange juice, minced ginger, sugar, dried Chen pi, water, and Chinese five spice powder to a large saucepan.

Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar and ensure even cooking. Once the mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low. Fold in cranberries and let the sauce simmer in low heat, uncovered, for about  8-10 minutes. The cranberries will start to burst and release their juices, and the sauce will thicken.

Taste the sauce for sweetness and tartness. If it's too tart, add more sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired level of sweetness. If you prefer a stronger citrus flavor, you can add more orange zest or juice. You can also adjust the spices according to your taste.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the cranberry sauce cool. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Transfer the cranberry sauce to a serving dish and let it cool to room temperature. Enjoy your homemade cranberry sauce! If you like, you can garnish the cranberry sauce with a few orange peels before serving.

Pro tips 

While making cranberry sauce, there are a few tips to keep in mind. 

Do not overcook: First, simmer the cranberries gently, making sure not to overcook them, as it can affect their texture. 

Preparing ahead: To make your holiday meal preparation a breeze, plan ahead and make the cranberry sauce a few days before Thanksgiving dinner. This way, you can save time and reduce stress on the big day. 

Creating the perfect sauce consistency:  The perfect consistency depends on personal preference. If you prefer a silky, smooth cranberry sauce, use a blender or a food processor to achieve the result or add longer cooking time. However, if you enjoy a chunkier sauce, simmer the cranberries a bit shorter and maintain some whole berries for a pop of texture. 

More versatile serving ideas

• This Asian-inspired cranberry sauce pairs exceptionally well with many different dishes. In addition to traditional holiday turkey meal pairings,  you can also serve it alongside noodles, rice, and Peking duck for a tangy, sweet, and savory flavor. 
• You can use the sauce as a condiment for sandwiches or wraps or a flavor-packed dip for root vegetables. Using the sauce as a toast spread or a topping for pancakes sounds like a good idea, too.
• You can also use the leftover cranberry sauce as a glaze for roasted chicken or a marinade for other meat dishes.

Storing and reheating the Asian cranberry sauce

To store cranberry sauce, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the fridge, where it can be kept fresh for up to a week. When reheating cranberry sauce, you can either reheat the sauce on medium heat on the stovetop or in a microwave and stir occasionally.  

Final thoughts

This Asian Cranberry Sauce is a fantastic way to add an extra layer of flavor to your Thanksgiving table. It's a creative and really fun way to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family. The combination of the tartness of cranberries and the warmth of Asian spices is a taste that will make your Thanksgiving feast special. Try this recipe next time and enhance your holiday meal with this delicious Asian-inspired cranberry sauce! 🙂

Asian Cranberry Sauce Recipe (With Orange And Ginger)

The combination of traditional cranberry sauce with Asian-inspired spices and flavors adds a unique twist to your holiday meal.

5 from 15 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 112kcal

Ingredients

• 12 oz bag of cranberries
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice about 1 large orange
• 1 tablespoon dried Chen pi
• ¼ teaspoon five spice powder
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced

Instructions

• Rinse the fresh cranberries under cold water, removing debris or damaged berries. Drain them well.
• Add the orange juice, minced ginger, sugar, dried Chen pi, water, and Chinese five spice powder to a large saucepan.
• Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar and ensure even cooking.
• Once the mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low. Fold in cranberries and let the sauce simmer in low heat, uncovered, for about 8-10 minutes. The cranberries will start to burst and release their juices, and the sauce will thicken.
• Taste the sauce for sweetness and tartness. If it's too tart, add more sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired level of sweetness. If you prefer a stronger citrus flavor, you can add more orange zest or juice. You can also adjust the spices according to your taste.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the cranberry sauce cool. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Transfer the cranberry sauce to a serving dish and let it cool to room temperature. If you like, you can garnish the cranberry sauce with a few orange peels before serving. Enjoy your homemade cranberry sauce!

Nutrition

Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 24.2g | Calcium: 8mg

Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below, and tag me @sassychopsticks9 or tag #sassychopsticks9 on Instagram!

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