When we were young, the only cranberry we knew was the sickly-sweet sticky jam that was available in the supermarkets at Christmas. I never liked it. As a kid, I always thought it was weird putting jam on your Christmas dinner!

Then along came Delia, the advent (pardon the pun) of fresh or frozen cranberries, and suddenly everything changed. My Cranberry Compote is only very distantly related to Delia’s, as I really like the tartness contrasting with all the sweet stuff available at Christmas time.

It’s a really versatile little pot of glorious crimson goodness. If you prefer it a little sweeter, just add more sugar to this recipe.

EQUIPMENT:

A large saucepan
A wooden spoon that you don’t mind staining red!
Some sterilised jam jars or pretty pots
a jam funnel, if you have one (I’m a messy cook, so I find it saves me a lot of tidying up)

INGREDIENTS:

2 bags of fresh Cranberries (my bags held 300g, so two of them)
The juice and zest of a large orange
25mls Port
50mls red wine
50g soft brown sugar

METHOD:

Wash and pick over the cranberries to remove any damaged ones
Put them into the saucepan on a medium heat
Add the sugar, orange zest and juice, wine and port.
Bring to a gentle boil,(I love listening to the berries popping gently!) then turn down immediately to a low heat, the let it bubble gently away until it becomes soft and sticky. This should take no more than 20-30 minutes.

The Compote needs to thicken up a little from this picture..

The more unripe berries will mostly hold their shape, while the others will break down. There should still be a little liquid left in the saucepan, don’t let it get too dry.
Taste it for sweetness (Careful now! it will be hot!) then stir in some more sugar to taste, if required.
Decant into your chosen containers.
Put the lids on immediately, and allow to cool.
Then label and decorate if you’re giving some away as gifts.

NOTES:

I use this on Christmas day, with the turkey dinner; as an accompaniment to a terrine https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/my-venison-terrine/, or pate https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/my-chicken-liver-pate/, and as an ingredient in my cheat’s Mince Pie roll-ups https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/cheats-mince-and-cranberry-rolls/.
It keeps really well, just in a kitchen cupboard.

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