Frozen Cranberries for Christmas Chutney

Asked by hainan. Answered on 18th October 2011

Full question

I want to make Nigella's Christmas Chutney soon to allow the flavours time to mature in time for Christmas. However, I can't seem to find fresh or frozen cranberries at the moment. Could you let me know what shops stock them, and if dried cranberries could be substituted? Many thanks, Caroline

Our answer

In the UK it is slightly early for Cranberries but we have found two on-line suppliers of frozen cranberries (see link below). Unfortunately as they are frozen they incur a special delivery charge if mail ordered, but Natural Grocery has a store in Cheltenham (see the webite for details).

If you can wait a couple of weeks then you may see fresh cranberries being stocked in some speciality grocers as it will be getting close to Thanksgiving. If you live in London then both Panzer's in St John's Wood and Michanicou Brothers in Notting Hill tend to stock fresh cranberries from around the second week of November but we would suggest calling first to check when stocks are in.

Unfortunately the Christmas Chutney does not adapt for dried cranberries, but we would suggest instead trying the Cranberry and Apple Chutney aslo in Christmas (p239) as this chutney uses dried cranberries.