Cranberry sauce with port wine might just be your new traditional condiment for turkey. Port wine cranberry sauce is also great with pork or chicken.
What would the Thanksgiving table be without cranberry sauce? Making the sauce is pretty easy, but there are a few things to consider before you get started.
More on Mission Figs
We use Sun-Maid or Orchard Choice Mission Figs with their full, earthy sweetness to team up with tart and tangy cranberries. Dried figs are a marvel when rehydrated, taking on the flavor of whatever liquid they are steeped in or simmered in—when simmering, they also soften significantly, but still keep their shape.
Simmering Liquids
Port wine is naturally sweet and often enjoyed on its own with dessert or after dinner. It is a perfect partner to Mission Figs, amplifying their flavor. But, left on their own—especially with the addition of brown sugar and sugar—would make the cranberry sauce too sweet. So, balsamic vinegar adds acidity.
Seasoning
Woody rosemary, salt, and piquant black pepper add nuance to the port wine cranberry sauce.
Last Minute Condiment
To make the sauce, you’ll simmer everything except for the cranberries for 10 minutes. Then the cranberries get added to the saucepan until some of them have popped their skins. A final seasoning and the sauce is done.
California Fig, Cranberry and Port Wine Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups port wine
- 1/2 cup balsamic wine vinegar
- 2 cups Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs diced
- 1 rosemary sprig whole
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper
- 12 ounces cranberries washed, drained
- kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Simmer all of the ingredients except the cranberries for ten minutes. Remove the rosemary sprig. Add the cranberries and simmer until half of them have popped their skins. Adjust the taste with salt if needed. Remove the sauce from the heat. This sauce can be served cold or hot.
Notes
Photo by Annelies Zijderveld