Traditional Cranberry Salad

🕒 Prep: 30 min
🔥 Cook:
🍽 Serves: 8
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This Traditional Cranberry Salad is a delightful mix of tart cranberries, juicy fruits, and crunchy nuts, making it a perfect addition to any festive table. Its refreshing taste and vibrant color bring a pop of freshness to any meal, especially during the holiday season.

Ingredients for Traditional Cranberry Salad

Cranberries are the star of the show, offering a bright, tart base that contrasts beautifully with the other ingredients. Granulated sugar helps mellow the cranberries' natural tartness, making them more palatable. An orange adds a zesty freshness through its juice and zest, elevating the salad's flavor profile. Walnuts bring a satisfying crunch and a hint of earthiness. An apple provides a sweet, crisp texture, complementing the tart cranberries. Red grapes are juicy and sweet, adding another layer of flavor. Finally, a pinch of salt enhances all the flavors, and whipped cream ties everything together with a light, creamy texture.

Tips & Tricks

  • For a more intense orange flavor, use the zest of two oranges instead of one.
  • To save time, you can use pre-whipped cream or even a whipped topping.
  • Toast the walnuts for a richer, nuttier flavor.

Serving Suggestions

This salad pairs wonderfully with roasted turkey or ham, making it an ideal side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. It's also lovely served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as a dessert or alongside a cheese platter as a refreshing contrast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen cranberries?
Yes, just thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before using.
How long does this salad keep?
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it can last for about 2-3 days.
Can I make this salad vegan?
Absolutely! Substitute the whipped cream with a plant-based whipped topping.

Traditional Cranberry Salad Recipe Walkthrough

Start by rinsing your fresh cranberries under cold water to remove any debris. Once clean, place them in a food processor. Pulse until they are finely chopped, but be careful not to turn them into a puree. This should only take a few quick pulses.

Transfer the chopped cranberries into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle in the granulated sugar and mix well. Let this mixture sit for at least 30 minutes. This step, known as maceration, allows the cranberries to soak up the sugar, reducing their tartness and bringing out their natural juices.

While the cranberries are macerating, prepare the other ingredients. Juice and zest your orange, chop the walnuts, core and dice the apple, and halve the red grapes. Once the cranberries are ready, add all these ingredients to the bowl, along with a pinch of salt. Stir everything together until it's well combined.

Finally, gently fold in the whipped cream until the salad is evenly coated. Be careful not to deflate the whipped cream too much. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. This chilling time allows the flavors to meld beautifully.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Quick and easy to prepare, requiring minimal cooking skills.
  • A perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors.
  • Makes a great side dish for holiday meals or potlucks.
  • No cooking required, just a bit of chopping and mixing.

Ingredients

3 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup granulated sugar
1 orange, juiced and zested
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 apple, cored and diced
1 cup red grapes, halved
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup whipped cream

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Rinse the fresh cranberries and place them in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped cranberries and granulated sugar. Mix well and let sit for at least 30 minutes to macerate.
3. Add the orange juice, orange zest, chopped walnuts, diced apple, halved grapes, and salt to the cranberry mixture. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
4. Gently fold in the whipped cream until the salad is evenly coated.
5. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld before serving.

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