Thanksgiving dinner may include deep-fried turkey instead of roasted turkey, pecan pie over pumpkin, and cornbread dressing in place of oyster stuffing, depending on your traditions. No matter the menu, there will likely be plenty of side dishes—including cranberry sauce. According to Ocean Spray, Americans consume more than 400 million pounds of cranberries annually, with Thanksgiving week accounting for 20% of this amount.
One of the oldest Thanksgiving customs can be observed by including cranberries on your plate, whether you like them raw in a relish, cooked with sugar and water, or straight from a can. Heres what we know about its origins.
Cranberry sauce, a Thanksgiving staple, is more than just a sweet and tangy condiment. It’s a time-honored tradition, a culinary counterpoint to the savory turkey, and a testament to the ingenuity of early American settlers.
A Culinary Marriage of Sweet and Savory
Turkey, with its mild flavor and lean texture, can sometimes be a bit dry and bland. Cranberry sauce, with its vibrant tartness and sweetness, provides a delightful contrast, balancing out the richness of the turkey and adding a burst of flavor to each bite. It’s a classic culinary pairing that has stood the test of time.
A Native American Tradition
Cranberries, a native North American fruit, have been a part of the continent’s culinary history for centuries. Long before the arrival of European settlers, Native Americans used cranberries in various ways, including as a food source, a dye, and a medicine. They would often combine cranberries with other ingredients, such as dried meat, to create pemmican, a portable and nutritious food.
The Evolution of Cranberry Sauce
The exact origins of cranberry sauce as we know it today are somewhat unclear. However, it is believed that early American settlers adopted the Native American practice of using cranberries as a food source and began experimenting with different ways to prepare them. By the 17th century, recipes for cranberry sauce started appearing in cookbooks, and the dish gradually became a Thanksgiving tradition.
The Convenience of Canned Cranberry Sauce
In the early 20th century, the invention of canned cranberry sauce revolutionized the way Americans enjoyed this Thanksgiving staple. Canned cranberry sauce offered a convenient and shelf-stable option, making it accessible to a wider audience and further solidifying its place on Thanksgiving tables across the country.
More Than Just a Condiment
Cranberry sauce is more than just a condiment; it’s a symbol of Thanksgiving tradition, a reminder of the ingenuity of early American settlers, and a testament to the enduring power of culinary innovation. It’s a dish that brings families and friends together creating memories that last a lifetime.
So, the next time you enjoy a spoonful of cranberry sauce with your Thanksgiving turkey, remember that you’re not just indulging in a delicious treat; you’re participating in a centuries-old tradition that has its roots in the rich history of North America.
Was Cranberry Sauce Served at the First Thanksgiving?
A native North American fruit, cranberries grow mostly in the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest. Its debatable whether or not there were cranberries at the first Thanksgiving. Although little is known about the food that the Wampanoag tribe and the Pilgrims ate during the harvest festival in 1621, it probably consisted of corn and shellfish along with deer rather than turkey.
It’s unlikely that cranberry sauce as we know it today was served at the dinner because sugar wasn’t readily available at the time. However, given that the Wampanoag tribe utilized the fruit for food, medicine, and dye, cranberries might have had some significance.
At that celebration, if the Pilgrims and the Native Americans consumed cranberries, it was most likely in the form of pemmican, a meal made with dried meat and crushed cranberries. As the dish developed over the ensuing years, cranberries quickly gained popularity among the settlers as an ingredient.
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FAQ
Why do we have cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving?
Where did turkey and cranberry sauce originate?
Why are cranberries a symbol of Thanksgiving?
Does cranberry go with turkey?
Can you eat cranberry sauce with Turkey?
Cranberry sauce can be used with a variety of meats, including turkey, pork, chicken, and ham. Cranberry sauce is often eaten in conjunction with turkey for Christmas in the United Kingdom and Canada or Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada, and it is only rarely eaten or served in other contexts there.
Is jellied cranberry sauce good for our health?
That infamous block of canned cranberry sauce! Cranberry sauce can be rich in antioxidants and overall can be part of a healthy diet. I encourage you to look at the nutrition label and see how much added sugar is in the container as this will have more of an effect on our health. Ideally we want to minimize the amount of added sugar in our diets, but this is challenging for cranberries as they are tart and sour by nature. Most people do not find this palatable. So you can either elect an option that is lower in added sugar, or modify your portion size so it does not have a tremendous effect. I hope this helps. Thanks for your question! Noah, RD
Do you eat cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving?
Whether you prefer your cranberries cooked with water and sugar into a sauce, raw in a relish, or from a can, adding cranberries to your Thanksgiving plate allows you to partake in one of the oldest Thanksgiving traditions. Here’s what we know about its origins. Was Cranberry Sauce Served at the First Thanksgiving?
Why do Americans eat cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving?
By the 1860s, cranberry sauce was so ingrained as an American dish, that General Ulysses S. Grant reportedly ordered that cranberries be served to soldiers as part of their Thanksgiving meal. Whichever cranberry recipe you end up eating on Thanksgiving, it just might be the most venerable dish on your menu.