Nothing beats the rich, complex flavor of homemade ketchup made from scratch with fresh ingredients. This traditional recipe creates a thick, aromatic condiment that puts store-bought versions to shame. With ripe tomatoes, sweet apples, and a perfect blend of spices, you’ll discover why making your own ketchup is worth every minute of cooking time.
Ingredients
- 2000g (4.4 lbs) ripe tomatoes
- 250g (8.8 oz) sweet apples
- 250g (8.8 oz) onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1/4 hot pepper (optional, to taste)
- 4-5 cloves garlic
- 150g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 60ml (1/4 cup) white vinegar 9%
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground sweet paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 bay leaves
- 4 whole cloves
Instructions
Preparation and Initial Cooking
- Wash and prep vegetables: Thoroughly wash all vegetables and fruit. Cut tomatoes into quarters and onion into large pieces. Remove apple cores and cut into cubes. Remove seeds from both red and hot peppers, then chop.
- Combine ingredients: Place all chopped vegetables, apples, and peeled garlic cloves into a large pot.
- First cooking phase: Stir mixture and bring to boil over low heat. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables and apples are completely soft.
Blending and Seasoning
- Cool and blend: Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Blend with hand blender until smooth as possible.
- Strain for smoothness: For perfectly smooth consistency, strain entire mixture through fine mesh strainer to remove remaining skins and seeds.
- Add seasonings: Return smooth puree to clean pot. Add sugar, salt, paprika, cinnamon, bay leaves, whole cloves, and vinegar. Mix thoroughly.
Final Cooking and Preservation
- Second cooking phase: Bring mixture to boil again, then reduce to low heat. Cook for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally and more frequently toward end. Ketchup will gradually thicken to desired consistency.
- Remove spices: Before filling, remove bay leaves and whole cloves from hot ketchup.
- Fill and seal: Fill hot ketchup into sterilized jars. Seal tightly, invert for 5-10 minutes, then turn upright and cool wrapped in blanket.
Recipe Information
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 90 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: Makes approximately 1.5 liters (6 cups)
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons)
Calories: 25 | Carbs: 6g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Sodium: 85mg | Vitamin C: 8mg
Why This Recipe is Healthy and Delicious
This homemade ketchup recipe offers significant advantages over commercial versions. Fresh tomatoes provide lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that supports heart health and may help protect against certain cancers. The addition of apples contributes natural sweetness and fiber while reducing the need for excessive added sugar.
Unlike store-bought ketchup loaded with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives, this authentic version uses simple, whole food ingredients. The blend of spices including cinnamon and paprika adds not only flavor complexity but also anti-inflammatory compounds. Sweet red peppers contribute vitamin C and beta-carotene, while garlic provides immune-supporting properties.
By controlling the ingredients, you eliminate artificial additives, reduce sodium content, and create a condiment that’s both more nutritious and infinitely more flavorful than anything you can buy. The natural pectin from apples helps achieve that perfect thick consistency without artificial thickeners.
This traditional ketchup recipe proves that homemade truly is better – delivering superior taste, nutrition, and the satisfaction of creating something authentic in your own kitchen.