To make homemade ketchup, follow these general steps based on several reliable recipes:

Ingredients

• Tomatoes (fresh or canned whole tomatoes)
• Tomato paste (optional, for thicker consistency)
• Onion (sliced)
• Garlic cloves (chopped)
• Ginger (optional, chopped)
• Olive oil
• Brown sugar (adjust to taste)
• Apple cider vinegar
• Salt and black pepper
• Spices such as allspice, crushed red pepper flakes (optional for spice), onion powder, garlic powder, celery seeds, chili powder or cayenne (optional)
• Water (if needed to adjust consistency)

Method

1. Cook aromatics: Heat olive oil over medium heat and cook sliced onions until soft and lightly browned (about 8 minutes). Add garlic, ginger, and spices like allspice and red pepper flakes and cook for a couple more minutes to toast the flavors

2. Add tomato paste: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove raw tomato flavor

3. Add tomatoes and sweeteners: Add canned whole tomatoes with their juice (or fresh blended tomatoes), brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Adjust sugar to taste for sweetness

4. Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce heat, and cook gently for about 20 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and shiny. Break up tomatoes with a spoon while cooking

5. Blend: Once thickened, blend the mixture until smooth using an immersion blender or regular blender

6. Cool and store: Let the ketchup cool to room temperature, then transfer to a jar or airtight container. Refrigerate and use within about one month

Tips and Variations

• You can substitute brown sugar with honey or maple syrup for different sweetness profiles

• Add Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, mustard powder, or herbs like basil and oregano for unique flavors

• For spicy ketchup, add cayenne pepper or Sriracha

• If using tomato sauce instead of paste, expect longer cooking time to thicken

This homemade ketchup is more flavorful and customizable than store-bought versions and pairs well with fries, nuggets, and as a base for BBQ sauces

. In summary, making ketchup involves cooking down tomatoes with aromatics, vinegar, sugar, and spices until thickened, then blending smooth and refrigerating