Homemade Ketchup
Thick, glossy tomato ketchup made from tomato paste, cider vinegar, brown sugar and warm spices, simmered in a saucepan. Ready in 25 minutes.
The word ketchup probably comes from kê-tsiap, a word from the Hokkien dialect of southern China for a fermented fish sauce, and the sauce reached Britain in the seventeenth century with sailors and traders. English cooks made their own versions from mushrooms, walnuts and anchovies. Tomatoes did not appear in ketchup until the early nineteenth century, and a recipe published in 1812 by James Mease of Philadelphia is often given as the first, and the sweet, smooth, red tomato ketchup of today grew from that. Making it at home is easier than it sounds, if you begin with tomato paste and not with fresh tomatoes, which have to be cooked down for hours. Tomato paste is already concentrated, so all it needs is thinning with water, then a sweet and sour balance of sugar and vinegar, and the warm spices that give ketchup its familiar background taste, which are allspice, cloves and a little onion and garlic. It simmers in twenty minutes. The result is a ketchup that tastes brighter and more of tomato than a bottle, and that you can change to suit yourself, with less sugar, more vinegar or some smoked paprika. Simmer it slowly and stir often, because it spits, and it catches on the base of the pan as it thickens.
What People Ask
How long does Homemade Ketchup take to make?
About 25 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 15.
What are the key tips for making Homemade Ketchup?
Simmer over a low to medium heat and stir often. Ketchup sticks to the base of the pan as it thickens, and a burnt taste cannot be fixed. Let it cool completely before you judge the thickness. It thickens as it cools, and it is easy to overcook a ketchup that looks thin in the pan. Taste it cold, not hot. Warm ketchup tastes sweeter and less sharp, so a small extra splash of vinegar at the end is often needed.
What should I serve with Homemade Ketchup?
Chips; Burgers; Sausage rolls.
Can Homemade Ketchup be made ahead or frozen?
Keeps in a clean, sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Freezes for 3 months.
Is Homemade Ketchup suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Homemade Ketchup?
About 36 kcal per serving, with 1 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate and 0 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Homemade Ketchup: Step by Step
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Whisk the tomato paste, water, vinegar and sugar in a medium saucepan until smooth. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, allspice, cloves and cayenne.
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Bring to a gentle bubble over medium heat, then turn the heat down and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until the ketchup has reduced by about a third and is thick and glossy. Keep the pan partly covered, because it spits.
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Taste and adjust with a little more sugar, vinegar or salt.
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Pour into a clean jar or bottle and let it cool completely, then cover and store in the fridge.
Tips That Matter
- Simmer over a low to medium heat and stir often. Ketchup sticks to the base of the pan as it thickens, and a burnt taste cannot be fixed.
- Let it cool completely before you judge the thickness. It thickens as it cools, and it is easy to overcook a ketchup that looks thin in the pan.
- Taste it cold, not hot. Warm ketchup tastes sweeter and less sharp, so a small extra splash of vinegar at the end is often needed.
Pairs Well With
Chips · Burgers · Sausage rolls
Leftovers and Storage
Keeps in a clean, sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Freezes for 3 months.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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