13 Zippy Relishes to Balance Out Your Thanksgiving Plate

Thanksgiving fare is, by and large, rich, comforting, and heavy—in a good way. Perhaps that's why the post-feast nap is, at least in many houses, as celebrated as the turkey. But sometimes the flavors can get a bit repetitive, and the heavy food might weigh down your palate.

Enter relishes! We all know cranberry sauce, one of the most well-established (and simultaneously one of the most polarizing) staples of the Thanksgiving table. Love it or hate it, cranberry sauce plays a vital role in the holiday spread; not only does it add a welcome pop of color, but it brings a bit of zip. Brightness. Pizzazz. Cranberry sauce takes the comforting flavors of Thanksgiving and punches them up. Its tart-sweet balance contrasts and complements everything from turkey to stuffing to my personal favorite, mashed potatoes.

And cranberry sauce is just the tip of the Thanksgiving relish iceberg. Bring some zip to the table with a bowl of sweet-and-savory onion confit or roasted applesauce either in lieu of or alongside old faithful. We've rounded up a few of our favorite relishes (and relish-like sauces) from our Thanksgiving menu maker—and a bonus recipe or two—to get the ball rolling.

Do you have any go-to relishes to bring a pop of flavor to your Thanksgiving table? Tell us in the comments!