450 currant recipes

A new type of fruity spread that tastes delicious with toast or in a sandwich.

Old-fashioned mincemeat pie with ground caribou, apple cider, raisins, currants, and warm spices, spiked with brandy. A lattice-topped holiday classic with a wild game twist.

Browned chicken breasts baked on a bed of cumin-toasted bulgur pilaf studded with sweet currants and crunchy almonds. A wholesome one-pan Middle Eastern inspired dinner in 45 minutes.

Pâté maison poaches chicken livers in spiced water, then blends them with sweet butter, mustard, nutmeg, garlic, Calvados, and dried currants. The classic Silver Palate spread for crusty bread and a cold martini.

Treat your guests with this delicious cheese ball that's simple to make, and goes well with any kind of snack!

Light, tender muffins studded with tart blackcurrants and a touch of wheat germ for nutty depth. Mixed by hand, baked in 20 minutes, and brilliant with a cup of tea or a morning coffee.

Roast duckling glazed with apricot basting sauce, served with wild rice studded with toasted pine nuts, chopped pears, and currants. An elegant holiday centerpiece.

Persimmon muffins with cinnamon, bourbon, walnuts, and currants. Made with pureed persimmon pulp and baking soda for a dense, spiced, fruit-forward fall muffin.

Emily Dickinson's black cake, a dense Victorian fruitcake with brandy, molasses, raisins, currants, and citron spiced with cloves, mace, and cinnamon. Baked low and slow.

Traditional Cornish saffron cake with real saffron threads, lard, butter, and currants baked in loaf pans. A golden, fragrant British yeasted fruit bread that's worth the overnight wait.

Quinoa salad with fresh apricots, currants, scallions, toasted pine nuts, and bell pepper. A light Mediterranean-inspired grain salad that balances sweet dried fruit with crunchy nuts and herby alliums.

Green beans and butternut squash glazed in currant jelly, garlic butter, basil, and lemon juice, topped with toasted walnuts. A make-ahead holiday side dish.

A Sicilian classic: tender cauliflower simmered with anchovies, pine nuts, currants, and tomatoes over spaghetti. Sweet, savory, and unmistakably Palermo on your plate.

French braised red cabbage with toasted caraway seeds, currants, red wine, and vinegar. A vegetarian side dish baked until sweet, tangy, and meltingly tender. Served warm or at room temperature.

A zesty, fruity sauce with a hint of ginger. Perfect to accompany meat or poultry, served hot or cold. Quick and easy to prepare.

This relish is based on a prize-winning English recipe of more than a generation ago. It is less sweet than traditional chutneys; most of its sweetness comes not from sugar, but from apples, dates, and parsnips. I generally use Winesap apples but any well-flavored, crisp eating apple will do.