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5 Dec 2012

Homemade Tomato Ketchup


What is in your cupboard, all the time especially if you have kids or for that matter adults who gorge fried snacks and generally love to munch on home made snacks ... yes, it is ketchup. I still remember the "Kissan Ketchcup" during my school days and it was such a treat to have samosas and bajjis with gulgs of the red sauce. I often used to wonder how lovely it tasted..:))

I love it , love it , love it .... but after all the talk about MSG / excess sugar / salt / artificial flavourings and colourings etc , I became wary of having bottled preserved sides for snacks. Kids don't understand this, so we have to give way sometimes.


Hey...!!! wait, don't give up so fast... Whatever is available in the markets can be reproduced at home, if not 100% atleast the homemade ones come very close to the industrial production.

I can guarantee the satisfaction and joy that accompanies when something so simple and delicious is prepared at home is immeasurable, no matter what brand you buy in the stores. The satisfaction doubles when your little one gives you the thumbs up with your experiment.


You have to believe me when I say that I have stopped buying ketchup or for that matter chocolate spread from the shops... I make my own. After all you are feeding your little one who deserves the best and when it is homemade, you know what goes into the making of the sauce.

The internet is a blessing in disguise as when you enter some title something or the other related to the title pops open. So my search for tomato ketchup recipe led me here. It sounds very simple and easy. There are few other recipes but the amount of vinegar and sugar was not appealing to me.


I was skeptical at first but you have to try it to know wether it works or not. I did try and it was good, so I kept the recipe as it is except for adding a few and reducing the amount of vinegar. The spices gives an special flavour and my Indian palette demands flavour in everything I eat.

All the ingredients are fresh and easily available everywhere. It makes wonderful edible gift that would definitely amaze your friends. When everyone else are gifting cakes / cookies/ flowers etc I can guarantee that you can make your stand when you hand them a bottle of homemade ketchup.  This comes very handy when you hold festive parties or just to accompany your evening snacks..:)


For the recipe:
Ripe plum tomatoes :2 kgs.
Red onions: 2 medium.
Whole garlic pods: 3.
Fresh ginger: 1 inch piece [optional]
Cumin seeds: 1 tsp [optional]
Cloves: 2-3.
Mace: a small piece.
Chilli flakes: 1 1/2 tsp.
Bay leaves: 2.
Crushed pepper corns: 1 tsp.
Red wine vinegar: 100mls.
Water: 100 mls.
Light brown sugar: 3 tbsp.


1.Roughly chop the onions, tomatoes and garlic pods. Put them in a heavy bottomed deep pan with the water and chilli flakes. Place the pan on medium slim flame.
2.Cover and cook for atleast 45 minutes stirring occasionally until the veggies have turned into a pulp.
3.After 45-50 minutes remove the pan from flame and let the contents cool for 10-15 minutes.
4.Whiz the contents using a hand blender or a mixie. Pass the blended contents through a nylon sieve.
5.Rub the pulp until you have extracted all the pulp leaving behind the skin and seeds of the tomatoes.   
6.Meanwhile put all the other ingredients except the sugar in another sauce pan and place the pan on slim flame for 10minutes.
7.After 10minutes remove the pan from the flame and set it aside for the flavours to infuse.
8.Place a clean pan on medium slim flame. Add the extracted pulp and sugar. Filter the vinegar and add it to the pulp.
9.Mix well and let the contents thicken to ketchup consistency which will take around 15-20 minutes.
10. Remove from flame and transfer to sterilised bottles. Close the lids and let the contents cool completely.

Tie some labels around the lids with "Festive Wishes" and make this season even more festive....



Notes:
The ketchup keeps well in the refrigerator for a couple of months. Make sure that the bottles are well sterilised and clean.

You can add more sugar if you want more sweetness to the ketchup. The given amount imparts a very mild sweetness.

All the ingredients can be altered according to your taste.

You can try the same recipe with green /yellow or orange tomatoes.

Sending this to Lets Cook Edible Gifts for Christmas by Nayna, Know Your Sweetness - Brown Sugar by Kirthi and JagrutiMerry Christmas Celebrations by Sheelu.






Enjoy ...

Scribbled by Reva.  

36 comments:

  1. Anything homemade is always special.. I love ketchup but hubby is too skeptical about it, so we don't use it much at home. Will try your home made version..

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  2. looks better than store bought one.. nice clicks..

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  3. Nice recipe,Must try this as it looks really good and home made ones are always the best...

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  4. Yes, we do like ketchup and thumb up for your recipe. I hope it will replace the market bought ketchups, great initiative.

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  5. I always want to make ketchup at home,somehow kids love the store bought ones, now i have a prefect recipe to give a try.

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  6. awesome finger licking tomato ketchup

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  7. Wow...lovely post dear...liketo have a try...

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  8. What a beautiful clicks, love this homemade version dear...
    Today's Special - Eggless Choc Creamed Cookies

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  9. awesome dear, luv the homemade versions always :)
    and i see that you do that a lot...gr8 work dear!
    Hope ur little one is happy and lucky to hv a mom like you.:)

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  10. looks so good. will try this.

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  11. Home made is always a tasty one... U rock...
    http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com

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  12. Homemade is always the best.. Lovely clicks

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  13. My kids love ketchup! great recipe
    http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com

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  14. A must try recipe. Nicely made dear.

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  15. Mouthwater and awesome tomato sauce. The clicks are treat to eyes...

    Preeti

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  16. perfectly made sis.thanks for visiting my space.happy to follow you.will you support me?

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  17. Ketchup disappears at home in minutes with every savory snack... I make some at home too when I get ripe tomatoes in the market!
    Love the true colour of the ketchup and especially the taste!

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  18. Lovely homemade ketchup with a nice colour.Thanks for visiting my space and am happy to visit yours too.You have a wonderful space with awesome clicks

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  19. Homemade is always best.... lovely clicks..happy to follow you back...
    FromMyRasoi
    http://frommyrasoi.blogspot.com/

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  20. I think one of the basic and essential requirement one has to buy in big bottles.

    Recipe looks amazing and I have bookmarked to give it a shot.

    Keep rocking.

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  21. So glad to discover another doctor with a food blog! YOur homemade ketchup looks stunning, so does the tomatoes..love your blog, I shall be your frequent visitor from now:-)

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  22. Really awesome site you have... tangy tangy Sauce... Lovely one...Following you Dear...

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  23. this ketchup is really super delicious and nice presentation Reva

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  24. this ketchup is really super delicious and nice presentation Reva

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  25. Homemade are the best,sure will try it out...

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  26. Anything homemade is always good ! Foodies will surely love to receive this wonderful and tasty treat :D

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  27. Lovely recipe.. I do always prefer something homemade rather than a store bought..

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  28. I never imagined also making this at home, great job Reva

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  29. Hats off to you my dear :-) I have never made ketchup at home, but now u motivate me to try it out.

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  30. Useful post..looks perfect..

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