This warm, rich variation on traditional cranberry sauce is both sweet and savory, always a great combination. And don't worry, you can serve it to the kids. Most of the alcohol evaporates in the cooking.
Recipe
Makes. 4 servings Preparation time. 1.5 hours
Ingredients
1 (750 ml) bottle inexpensive ruby port
1/2 cup inexpensive balsamic vinegar
8 ounces dried cranberries
1 small onion, minced
1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons butter
Table salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
About the cranberries. Don't try this with fresh cranberries. The secret is that the dried berries reconstitute with the wine and get rich and plump.
About the port. I prefer New York ruby ports for this recipe because they are fruitier than California ports and tawny ports. Look for Taylor or Widmer. If you can't find them, a California port like Gallo will do just fine.
Do ahead. This dish can be made in advance and refrigerated. Just leave out the butter. Warm the mix in the microwave or a saucepan, then add the butter, and stir it in with a spoon, not a whisk.
Do this
1) In a saucepan stir together the port, vinegar, cranberries, shallots, and thyme. Simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about an hour.
2) Stir in the butter until it melts. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
This page was revised 11/20/2008
Important Info About This Website
AmazingRibs.com is all about the Zen of Barbecue, cooking ribs, and all kinds of BBQ recipes and techniques: Barbecue baby back ribs, spare ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken, smoked turkey, steak, lamb, barbecue sauces, rubs, and great side dishes, with the net's best buying guide to barbecue smokers and cookers. It is written, illustrated, and coded solely by Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn.
About links on this site. Other than clearly marked ads, links and recommendations on this site are all products, services, and websites I truly admire, and are never paid endorsements. Your suggestions are always welcome. If you would like me to link to your website, click here to read my links policy first.
Product Reviews and Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards. Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards are highly recommended products that I have tested personally or that have been tested by reliable sources. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when I recommend a product, it is really because I like it, not because someone has paid me to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. I purchase most products I review although occasionally suppliers send me samples.
My Privacy Promise.I promise to never sell or distribute any info about you individually without your express permission, and I promise not to, ahem, pepper you with email or make you eat spam. Click here for more about my privacy promise.
Buy Meathead some meat so he can work up some new recipes.
With a $15 donation he'll send you a very cool embroidered iron-on patch.
With a $25 donation you'll get a 100% cotton, brushed twill, adjustable, low profile cap with the patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of BBQ'rs Delight wood smoke pellets.
GrillGrates Take Your Grill Into the Infrared Zone
GrillGrates are the best new product I have tested in years and the best thing to happen to beef since salt and pepper.
They sit on top of your current grill's grates. The hard anodized aircraft grade aluminum rail tops are flat and wide and make perfect dark crunchy grill marks. The base superheats yet eliminates hot spots and blocks flareups. This is the same concept behind the expensive new infrared grills.
Juices drip in the valleys between the rails and are vaporized and penetrate the meat enhancing flavor. I throw wood between the rails and they impart a delicate smoke flavor. I have made my best steaks and burgers ever with Grill Grates. This is a really great new product! Click here to read more and for ordering info.
The Smokenator
If you have a Weber Kettle, you need the amazing Smokenator and Hovergrill. The Smokenator turns your grill into a first class smoker, and the Hovergrill can add capacity or be used to get steakhouse steaks. Click here to read more and for ordering info.
Product Reviews and Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards. Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards are highly recommended products that I have tested personally or that have been tested by reliable sources. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when I recommend a product, it is really because I like it, not because someone has paid me to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. I purchase most products I review although occasionally suppliers send me samples.
With a $15 donation he'll send you a very cool embroidered iron-on patch.
or the 
from Amazon.
