Tomato ketchup is a favorite among kids, including mine! They will eat anything (even liver) with ketchup on it. However, most store-bought versions are filled with mystery spices and high fructose corn syrup.
Making your own ketchup is really worth it. The taste, texture, and flavor surpass store-bought ketchup by a mile! My kids love how flavorful it is and put ketchup on everything when we have a batch of this in the fridge. This condiment is a well-loved staple in our house.
Spice Is Nice!
Condiments play an important role in a healthy kitchen. Dried herbs and spices in dressings and condiments bring antioxidant benefits as well as flavor to the table. It’s a great way to add variety without completely changing your meal plan.
Sweet potato fries, grain-free fish sticks, or chicken fingers become more interesting when served with ranch instead of BBQ sauce … or with ketchup! And of course, classic American hot dogs and hamburgers (made with grass-fed beef, of course).
P.S. Want healthier ketchup without making it yourself? Try this organic, unsweetened version from Primal Kitchen!
How to Make Homemade Ketchup
Thankfully, this ketchup recipe is one of the easiest condiments to make at home with basic ingredients. You don’t need fancy equipment, just a blender or food processor.
Some homemade ketchup recipes involve cooking tomato sauce with spices and brown sugar on the stove. I’ve found that simply blending everything together and letting it meld in the fridge works just as well to achieve that classic tomato flavor.
I make this ketchup every few weeks so I always have it on hand to add to dishes or serve with almost any meat or vegetable (fruit might be pushing it …).
Ketchup Recipe Ingredients
I use raw honey as the sweetener of choice, but you could also use maple syrup or stevia for a low-sugar version. It helps balance the acidity without adding a ton of corn syrup (I’m talking to you, Heinz ketchup!). The homemade version has an even better taste than what you’ll find in most grocery stores.
Our family also likes a pinch of cayenne pepper in this recipe for a bit of heat. You could use black pepper or red pepper instead if you prefer. If your family doesn’t like spicy, you can skip this ingredient. However, it’s a subtle spicy taste that even my younger kids enjoy.
Storing Your Ketchup
This recipe will keep in the fridge for about a month, just like regular ketchup.
Another bonus: by making homemade recipes (whether for laundry, beauty, or food), you help the environment by skipping plastic packaging and using recyclable, reusable containers. Plus, your fridge won’t be cluttered with condiment bottles because you can make as little or as much as you want.
I usually store mine in a mason jar, but I also found some cute glass condiment bottles here.
Ready to try your hand at homemade ketchup?