Fresh Homemade Ketchup Recipe

Have I mentioned that I froze a bunch of tomatoes last spring?

Yeah, I know, I’ve mentioned it only a million times.  Well, you should know, they’re gone now.  I’ve used them all!  My freezer has never felt so empty!

Originally I made pasta sauce, then I made pizza sauce and now I’ve made homemade ketchup!  And let me tell you, it is amazing!  I was so impressed by how ketchup-y it came out.

Check out the homemade ketchup recipe below.

Homemade Ketchup

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 medium chopped onions
2 cloves minced garlic
36 ounces pureed fresh tomatoes with skins removed ***
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp allspice

Directions

1.  Heat oil and cook onions until softened.
2.  Add garlic and stir.
3.  Add everything else and bring to a boil.
4.  Reduce to simmer and allow to simmer for about an hour or until you reach your desired consistency.
5.  Let the mixture cool slightly and then blend (in a blender) until all ingredients are completely pureed.  (BE CAREFUL – Blending hot liquids can be dangerous.)
6.  Strain through a fine-mesh strainer.
7.  At this point you may can it Granite Ware Enamel-on-Steel Canning Kit using your preferred method, freeze it or put it in the fridge.  It will last in the fridge for 3-4 weeks.  (I have some in the fridge and froze the rest.)

Are you planning to make homemade ketchup?  Would you change any of the ingredients?

*** When I give you the 36-ounce measurement for the tomatoes, I am giving it to you using the method that I use to prepare my tomatoes.  If you have a different method, you might need a little more.

Here is how I do it:

– Freeze fresh whole tomatoes
– Defrost tomatoes
– Allow to sit on the counter and water will separate from the tomatoes.
– Pour off the water.
– The skins will literally fall off leaving you only the meaty center of the tomato.   If you are using truly fresh (never frozen) tomatoes, you’ll need more and you may need to use tomato paste.  If you don’t have fresh tomatoes, you can also use canned, pureed tomatoes.