Make ketchup at home with ripe tomatoes

Making homemade tomato ketchup is a fun and rewarding process. Here’s a simple recipe for you:

Ingredients:

• 2.5 kg ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)

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Instructions:

Prepare tomatoes:

1. Wash and chop the tomatoes. You can remove the seeds if you prefer a smoother ketchup.
   
   Cooking tomatoes
2. In a large saucepan, combine the chopped tomatoes, onion, and garlic.
3. Cook over medium heat until the tomatoes break down and the mixture becomes soft. Stir occasionally.
   
   Strain the mixture:
4. Once the tomatoes are soft, use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain the mixture. This will separate the liquid from the solids.
   
   Cooking liquid:
5. Return the liquid to the saucepan and add vinegar, sugar, salt, black pepper, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and cayenne pepper.
   
   Simmer:
6. Simmer the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Allow it to reduce and thicken. This can take 1-2 hours.
   
   Adjust consistency:
7. If your ketchup is not thick enough for your liking, you can continue simmering until it reaches the desired consistency.
   
   Taste and adjust:
8. Taste the ketchup and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Add more sugar, salt, or spices if needed.
   
   Cool and store:
9. Allow the ketchup to cool, and then transfer it to sterilized jars or bottles. Store in the refrigerator.
   
   Enjoy:
10. Your homemade tomato ketchup is ready to use! It’s great as a condiment for burgers, fries, and more.

Feel free to adjust the quantities of spices and seasonings to suit your taste preferences. Enjoy your homemade ketchup!