5 Ingredients or Fewer

Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish

by:
October 28, 2015
5
2 Ratings
Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish
Photo by Bobbi Lin
  • Makes 1 1/2 pints
Author Notes

Every year since 1972, Susan Stamberg has been reciting her mother-in-law's oddball cranberry relish recipe on NPR's All Things Considered. Its infamy might come from the strange ingredients—raw onion, cranberries, and sour cream, frozen and partially-thawed?—but it's surprisingly good. Adapted slightly from NPR . —Food52

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 cups whole raw cranberries, washed
  • 1 small onion
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons horseradish from a jar ("red is milder than white")
Directions
  1. Grind the raw berries and onion together. ("I use an old-fashioned meat grinder," says Stamberg. "I'm sure there's a setting on the food processor that will give you a chunky grind—not a purée.")
  2. Add the ground berries and onions to a bowl; then add everything else and mix.
  3. Put the mixture in a plastic container and freeze.
  4. Early Thanksgiving morning, move it from the freezer to refrigerator compartment to thaw. ("It should still have some icy slivers left.")
  5. The relish will be thick, creamy, and shockingly pink. ("OK, Pepto Bismol pink. It has a tangy taste that cuts through and perks up the turkey and gravy. It's also good on next-day turkey sandwiches, or with roast beef.")
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8 Reviews

Jon H.
Jon H. November 6, 2019
Did this one with prime rib for T-day last year and everyone LOVED it!
 
stacey
stacey December 2, 2016
So delicious! Saw the recipe on NPR and had all of the ingredients in the fridge already. This will be on our holiday table from now on. If you like horseradish at all this is a must try.
 
Sam1148
Sam1148 November 11, 2016
This..THIS is a must have for us for T-Day.
 
gretch374
gretch374 November 11, 2016
Is there a reason you are supposed to freeze it? If I just put it in the fridge would it still be ok?
 
Dana H.
Dana H. November 19, 2018
You need the freezer. It’s uncooked, but the freezer breaks down the onion (freezes the water in the cells/collapses and becomes milder).
 
Wendy G.
Wendy G. November 17, 2015
We have been making this for years after hearing the recipe on NPR. A unique taste and surely a wonderful addition to the Thanksgiving meal!
 
susan G.
susan G. November 13, 2015
I've made it and liked it, but I've read that Susan S has a different favorite recipe. This one, as well as most cranberry condiments, is good on sandwiches.
There's a pauljoseph chutney that he says can be made with cranberries. I did, and it's outstanding!
 
Bevi
Bevi November 10, 2015
This recipe has graced our thanksgiving table since the late 1970'S!