Pear, Ginger and Cranberry Sauce: A New Twist on a Classic Dish?

Answer 1

Cranberry sauce is a holiday classic, and no Thanksgiving or Christmas table would be complete without it. That doesn't mean you have to stick to the same recipe your great grandmother used, as great as it was, or buy that gelatinous stuff that comes out of a can. For a simple unique take an old classic, try this pear, ginger and cranberry sauce this holiday season.

Ingredients and Tools:

• 8 oz. whole fresh cranberries
• Colander
• 3/4 lb. fresh Pears
• Sharp knife
• 1/2-inch piece of fresh ginger
• Large saucepan with a tight-fitting top
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• Wooden spoon
• Large serving bowl
• Plastic wrap

Step 1:

Place the cranberries in a colander in the sink and rinse them with cold water, picking any debris off the cranberries with your fingers.

Step 2:

Peel the pears with a sharp knife and remove the core and seeds. Cube the pears into pieces about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch in size. Peel the ginger and finely chop it.

Step 3:

Place the cranberries, pear cubes and chopped ginger in a large saucepan with a tight-fitting top. Add the sugar and water to the mixture and stir it to fully combine the ingredients.

Step 4:

Heat the cranberry mixture over high heat on the stove top until boiling. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue heating the mixture for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring it regularly with a wooden spoon.

Step 5:

Remove the saucepan from the stove top and allow it to rest at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the pear, ginger and cranberry sauce to a large serving bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Place the covered bowl in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3 hours before serving it.

Tips:

If you can't get fresh pears you can use pears canned in water instead. Pat the pears dry with paper towels before chopping so you don't introduce excess water into the recipe.

You can make the pear, ginger and cranberry sauce up to 48 hours before you plan on serving it as long as you keep it tightly covered with plastic wrap in refrigerator.