Need a last-minute dish to take to a party? These easy cranberry sides are sure to be a hit.
Tarragon-Scented Cranberry Sauce
Makes 3 cups / From Franklin Becker, executive chef, and Fred Brightman, chef de cuisine, Capitale Restaurant, New York City. “Everyone has cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving,” says Brightman, “but here you’re utilizing tarragon, so it’s a whole different, and amazing, flavor profile.” Plus it’s easy to make: “It looks as if a lot of time was put into it, but it’s the simplest thing in the world.”
1 pound cranberries, frozen
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated
orange zest
4 tablespoons honey, plus more to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh tarragon leaves, torn
1. Combine all ingredients except tarragon in a nonreactive pot. Simmer 10–15 minutes, until cranberries burst, creating a saucelike consistency. Add tarragon and adjust seasoning with additional honey if necessary. Make ahead, if desired, and refrigerate in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (1/4 cup): Calories: 49 calories 
% fat calories: 2 Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Carbohydrate: 13g Protein: 0g Fiber: 2g Sodium: 1mg
Donna’s Cranberry Relish
Makes 3 cups / From Donna Prizgintas, personal chef, Los Angeles. This cranberry dish is “really a simple glorification of the classic that my family as well as most have on the table,” says Prizgintas, but the warm spice tones and dried fruit lift it beyond the ordinary. Use the freshest spices you can find for unparalleled flavor. If possible, make the sauce a day or two ahead of time and refrigerate, which helps marry the tastes. Bring to room temperature before serving.
1 pound fresh organic cranberries
1 cup fresh orange juice
Zest of 1 orange
1 cup black raisins, golden raisins, or dried cherries (or a combination)
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Dash sea salt
Dash freshly ground black pepper
Organic sugar, to taste
1. In a medium nonreactive saucepan, combine cranberries, juice, zest, dried fruit, spices, and sugar (start with 1/4 cup; keep it fairly tart). Simmer until cranberries begin to pop and flavors blend, about 10–15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (1/4 cup): Calories: 79 calories % fat calories: 2 Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Carbohydrate: 20g Protein: 1g Fiber: 2g Sodium: 12mg
