16 December 2023 , 14:00
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Gordon Ramsay has shared his method for making the 'ultimate' cranberry sauce to accompany your Christmas dinner.
There are so many things to prepare for Christmas dinner that things can get pretty hectic in the kitchen, so anything that can be prepped beforehand will make life so much easier on the day.
Of course you can always buy a jar of supermarket cranberry sauce but you could also blow your family and friends away with your own homemade version for an extra special touch, which Gordon says "wakes up the flavour of a turkey".
Unsurprisingly, the TV chef is a firm believer in being ready in advance and his recipe for the festive favourite condiment is one of those things that you can prepare before the day. "The secret to a really good Christmas is in the organisation and the preparation," he says. "Anything you can get done in advance, do it. Cranberry sauce is a prime example."
Here's the ingredients you need:
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- 150g caster sugar
- 2 star anise
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 250g fresh cranberries
- 2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 60ml ruby port
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
Here's how to make Gordon Ramsay's ultimate Christmas cranberry sauce:
Add the cardamom pods and star anise, which gives a lovely aniseed flavour to the cranberries, to a heavy based pan on a medium heat. Allow the sugar to melt and turn a rich caramel colour (without stirring) before adding the cranberries and a touch of seasoning.
Gordon's tip for seeing if cranberries are fresh is to drop them onto a hard surface - the higher they bounce, the fresher they are. Cook them briefly so they just start to soften and blister and add the apples, cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Toss regularly to coat all the fruit in the caramel.
Pour in the port to deglaze the pan and dissolve all the sticky bits of food that are stuck to the pan, which incorporates them into the sauce. Next add the orange zest and juice, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally so some of the cranberries and apple break down to thicken the sauce.
Discard the cardamom pods and star anise and transfer to a warmed serving dish if eating immediately. If preparing beforehand it can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days when the flavour will develop more. Warm before serving.
Gordon's recipe has been a huge hit with his fans: "I just made this for Thanksgiving," said one. "This is the best cranberry sauce I've ever tasted. I added a cinnamon stick as well."
Another added: "The best cranberry sauce I have ever ate; so sophisticated and tasteful, like all Gordon recipes. Thank you, Gordon!" A third commented: "Wow i tried out this recipe and my family absolutely loved it! you have such wonderful cooking ideas and you are a huge inspiration to me!"
Will you try Gordon’s cranberry sauce recipe? Let us know in the comments below.