Ketchup. I love it with fries, burgers, potatoes and eggs. I think this is an American thing mostly (I know there’s lots of international readers out there – do you eat much ketchup?), but I can’t quite imagine enjoying some French fries without it. Now there’s even a word for people who overuse ketchup: disrespectchup. As in, “when my wife took my lovingly grilled lime pork tenderloin and added ketchup, it was a disrespectchup.”

But this post isn’t about overusing ketchup – it’s about making your own! No longer do you need to buy the store-bought stuff that is filled with high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup (why do they need both?) and “natural flavors.” I don’t know what “natural flavors” are, and I don’t know why they can’t just spell them out if they’re so “natural.” Anyway, take some tomato puree and paste, along with some sugar, vinegar, spices and onion and you can make your own in no time.

The quality of the tomato puree and paste will definitely affect your end product, so use a brand you trust. I used organic products that I found on sale. Next time I might add a little less tomato paste. I also found that I needed additional salt and vinegar to cut down on the sweetness of the finished ketchup, but your tomato products will affect the flavors of yours. Taste it once it’s done and add spices as needed.

My plan to make lots of homemade versions of store-bought items this month has resulted in homemade Nutella, chocolate peanut butter, Hostess cupcakes, funfetti cupcakes, and now ketchup. Up next: homemade BBQ sauce and Oreos. What other foods that you would typically buy in the store would you like to see me make?

Recipe:

Homemade Ketchup

From Serious Eats, with my notes added

2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 28-oz. can tomato puree
1 T tomato paste
1/2 C packed dark brown sugar
1/4 C apple cider vinegar (I added another 2 T)
1/2 t kosher salt (I added another 1/4 t)
1/2 t ground mustard
1/8 t ground cloves
1/8 t allspice
1/8 t cayenne pepper

Over medium heat, heat oil in a medium saucepan until shimmering. Add in chopped onion and cook, stirring occassionally, for 5-8 minutes, until the onion is softened but not browned. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add tomato puree, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, ground mustard, cloves, allspice and cayenne pepper. Stir together and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to thickness of ketchup (around 45-60 minutes).

Place mixture into a blender or food processor and process until completely pureed and smooth. Place a fine mesh strainer on a large bowl and push ketchup through (you will need to force it through with a spatula, but the vast majority should be able to pass through).

Taste finished ketchup and add additional seasonings to taste. I added additonal vinegar and salt at this point.

Store ketchup in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.

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13 Comments on Homemade Ketchup

LauraT
April 27, 2011 at 10:45 am (14 years ago)

I bet homemade ketchup is really tasty! Hunts has a ketchup with straight sugar, no artificial stuff so that is what I’ve been buying lately. I think you should do a mustard to go with your ketchup, or a relish!
LauraT recently posted We Are Obsessed
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Heidi @ Food Doodles
April 27, 2011 at 11:02 am (14 years ago)

Your ketchup looks great! I’m not obsessive about ketchup or anything but I do enjoy it occasionally. I love making my own ketchup, it’s so much better than anything from the store – no matter how good the ingredients are 🙂
Heidi @ Food Doodles recently posted Roasted Garlic Hummus
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spiceblogger
April 27, 2011 at 11:43 am (14 years ago)

Hi! Just stopping by to say I’m passing on a couple blog awards to you! Just go to my site to claim them and then pass them along to other worthy bloggers.
Keep up the good work!
–Shelley
http://www.inthelandofspice.com/spiceblog/spiceblog/Entries/2011/4/27_Blog_Award_%26_Banana_Oatmeal_Bread.html
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Sarah Schiffman
April 27, 2011 at 7:36 pm (14 years ago)

I make my own mayonnaise all the time but I’ve never thought to make my own ketchup! I can not wait to try this!!
Sarah Schiffman recently posted Just Fine On Its Own
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Andrea
April 27, 2011 at 7:49 pm (14 years ago)

Mm, I’ll have to try this sometime!
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Magic of Spice
April 28, 2011 at 8:20 am (14 years ago)

This is something I have never tried to do…I am sure it is so much better than sore bough 🙂
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Adora's Box
April 28, 2011 at 10:04 am (14 years ago)

It’s always a good thing to learn how to make a homemade version of products normally bought ready made. Good job.
Adora’s Box recently posted BUN CHA- ASIAN GRILLED PORK PATTIES AND NOODLE SALAD
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Liz
April 28, 2011 at 5:28 pm (14 years ago)

What a fun project. We got a case of Heinz ketchup for a wedding present…my hubby’s one and only ketchup. Makes me curious what he’d think of homemade…I know “I’d” prefer it 🙂
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Nancy B
April 28, 2011 at 9:52 pm (14 years ago)

(my anti-spam word was just Tomato… how cute)

I would suggest Tahini Paste… I found a recipe for a dressing style but making the paste.

I recently saw on the Food Network that tomato ketchup is an American thing but Ketchups in general have been around for centuries… Cranberry and Apple ketchups are on my “to do” list.
Nancy B recently posted National Egg Salad Week – Global Ovals
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kita
April 29, 2011 at 8:33 pm (14 years ago)

Rock out! I bookmarked this and I can’t wait to try. I love the fidge life on this. Three months! We don’t eat that much ketchup here (bf doesn’t like it) so that’s great for me.
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Lisa
July 26, 2013 at 10:01 pm (11 years ago)

can you seal the jars and perserve this?
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- Stephanie Nuccitelli
  July 27, 2013 at 6:36 pm (11 years ago)
  
  Lisa, I’ve never tried it but here are some instructions on how to preserve homemade ketchup from another blog.