Cranberry & Port Sauce, the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas turkey and unbelievably simple to make.
I’m going to admit that in the past I’ve usually bought my cranberry sauce to serve alongside my Christmas turkey, but this year I decided that it was high time I got on and made my own.
I’m in charge of dinner this Christmas and I’m planning to make it as low effort as possible whilst still trying to make quite a few things from scratch. I love cooking and could happily while away a few hours in the kitchen cooking a roast, but that’s not what I’m planning on doing on the big day. I want to be in the lounge with my family and a glass of something delicious, opening presents and listening to cheesy Christmas music 🙂 .
The great thing about this cranberry and port sauce is that it can be prepared a few days in advance and stored in the fridge ready to get out and pop onto the table, so no effort on Christmas day. Another great thing is that it’s incredibly simple to make, chuck all of the ingredients into a pan, bring them to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes – all that’s needed is the occasional stir. The last great thing about it is that it’s yummy, the port adds a lovely rich flavour which I think goes perfectly with the sharpness of the cranberries.
By luck, on the day I was planning to photograph this recipe a preserving starter kit turned up on my doorstep, a little early Christmas present from Ball Preserving. Their jars are really pretty (can you see the lovely diamond pattern on them in the pictures), which means that you can pop them straight out onto your Christmas dinner table without worrying about decanting them into another dish.
There’s a bit more to the preserving kit than just the pretty jars though, it makes filling and sterilising jars easy and safe (as there’s no need to be handling hot jars) and contains all of the equipment you need. There’s full instructions included but essentially you fill the jars with your hot filling, pop them into the specially designed basket and then boil them to sterilise them, ready to store.
I didn’t need to use the full preserving kit for this cranberry sauce as I only make small batches that will be used up quickly, but I’m really looking forward to trying out some of the many recipes on the Ball website as I love homemade jams and chutneys.
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Cranberry & Port Sauce
INGREDIENTS
- 300 g cranberries - fresh or frozen
- 75 g dark brown sugar
- 180 ml ruby port
- Zest of 1 orange - finely grated
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put all of the ingredients into a saucepan (300g cranberries, 75g dark brown sugar, 180ml ruby port, zest of 1 orange). Bring to the boil and then turn the heat down to a simmer for about 20 minutes until the liquid has reduced to a syrupy consistency. Stir occasionally.
- Serve or store in jars in the fridge for a few days.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Any nutritional information provided is the estimated nutritional information per serving. Please refer to my guide to Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen nutritional information if you would like to learn more about how this is calculated.
Free From/Suitable For…
- Suitable for Vegetarians & Vegans
- Gluten-Free
- Dairy-Free
- Egg-Free
- Corn-Free
- Nut-Free
- Soy-Free
The ingredients for this recipe are easily available free from all these allergens. However, please ensure you double-check allergen information for all ingredients.
ElizM says
I’d try that cranberry recipe – looks fab! Next up would then be marmalade
Jim Milligan says
The Cranberry sauce recipe sounds like a good start to me.
stephen says
I’ve already preserved this year’s crop but I’m looking forward to next year’s (touch wood) raspberry – so it’ll be jam for me!
laura stewart says
strawberry jam would be lovely x
Hayley F says
i think i would make some cranberry and port sauce as it would ve fab with christmas dinner x
sarah rees says
cherry jam
Katie b says
Love to make some chutneys!
Christine Frankland says
I’d like to try the cranberry also onion chutney. Also chilli jam. Lots of lovely things to make and try!
Peter Watson says
I would make some plum jam first
Zoe C says
Damson Jam
Tania Atfield says
I love making chutneys so I would make a tomato chutney
Caroline H says
I like to make a caramelised onion chutney – now I’m wondering what I could put in that would work to make it a bit boozy!
Frances H says
My great-grandmother’s Tomato Chutney recipe. Yum!
claire woods says
strawberry jam
Wendy Thomas says
Will be using your recipe this year,looks delicious.
hannah wood says
Raspberry Jam
Joanne Beale says
I would love to make strawberry jam and also some apple chutney
Laura Harding says
Mincemeat – mine’s all gone this year!
Sarah Rees says
I would make strawberry jam for my husband
Dorogi Eva says
Strawberry jam
ROBERT MCINTOSH says
Date chutney would be my first go
Jennifer Haden says
I think a lovely blueberry jam would be my first attempt 🙂
Lisa says
I would love to make some redcurrant jelly as i have harvested loads from my plot
Tracy Nixon says
I think I’d follow your recipe as it sounds perfect to serve with our turkey on Christmas day!