Cranberry Sauce cooked in Marsala with Pomegranates
Claudia Haas

I love cranberries for the jewel-like red it brings to the table as well as its lip-pursing tartness. Once dissolved in a mixture of sugar and wine, it combines into a sweet/sour sauce that welcomes spices, syrups, nuts and other fruits. It's a palette of flavors. Combined with dry Marsala wine and Italian spices, it brings just a hint of Italian aroma to the table.

(Adapted from November 2009 Bon Appetit)

Cranberry Sauce with Pomegranate syrup, Marsala wine and Pomegranates

1 cup dry Marsala wine (if using sweet, cut sugar in half)

1-1/2 cups white granulated sugar (can reduce for extra tartness)

1 12 oz bag cranberries (fresh or frozen)

1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (optional; will increase the tart flavor)

2 T pomegranate syrup (instructions below)

2 T Italian herbs

Optional toppings: toasted chopped pecans, lemon zest, orange zest

Cranberry Sauce with Pomegranate Syrup and Marsala Wine Preparation

Stir to dissolve the sugar in the wine. Heat till boiling and boil down to 1 cup, stirring occasionally. (About ten minutes.) Stir in cranberries and pomegranates. Bring to boil and boil till cranberries pop and sauce thickens. (about eight minutes.) Boil down to desired consistency.

Remove from heat and stir in pomegranate syrup and Italian seasoning. Can be made one week ahead. Cover in airtight container and store in fridge. Bring to room temperature before serving. Optional: Top with chopped, toasted pecans or lemon and orange zest.

Pomegranate Syrup (similar to pomegranate molasses)

(I found this idea at Ginger Lemon Girl. The molasses was a wee bit too tart for my family and made more than I needed, so I adapted it. The molasses/syrup would make lovely gifts.)

One cup of pomegranate

2 T sugar

Dissolve sugar into pomegranate juice. Simmer sweetened juice for about 45 minutes - until thickened and reduced to 1/4 cup. Cool and pour into desired container. Will continue to thicken. Other uses for the syrup include adding to vinaigrette salad dressings, a glaze for ham, pork, salmon or vegetables.

A low-priced Pomegranate molasses can be found in the Twin Cities at Trader Joe's.

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