So we’re big ketchup fans around here. Big ones. We are such ketchup fans, that about six months ago, my son even decided his name should be ketchup– and he refuses to go by much else. So, when we started going through the ketchup like crazy, I decided to dig out my old family recipe from my great grandmother, and make my own. But this ketchup held a lip-tingling secret… lots of spice! This spicy ketchup is the perfect pick for summer cook outs, but be warned, it bites back!
The spicy ketchup recipe starts off simple– with a peck of tomatoes. That’s roughly 17 baseball sized tomatoes if you aren’t familiar with a peck.
Cut your tomatoes up into small pieces, preferably over the large pot you’re putting them in so you don’t lose all of the juice on the cutting board. You’ll also want to add 3 diced onions at this point. They’ll be strained out later, but for now, they’re there to add some great flavor. Cook this mixture for an hour on medium heat.
After an hour, your tomatoes will look a little something like this– hot, bubbly, and with a lot of the juice out of those tomatoes.
Strain this into a bowl. You’re looking to remove all of the seeds, the skins, the onions, and any extra bits that are too big for smooth ketchup, but you want as much of that juice as you can get.
This is the hardest part of the process, I swear, and it’s pretty easy to do!
All of this strained out pulp and seeds? Set it aside to cool, then save it a pasta sauce– I’ll be back with a great pasta sauce recipe tomorrow, so don’t miss it!
As for all of the juice that we drained off? Place it back in the pot and start the seasoning process! You’ll want to add 1/4 cup salt, 1 Tablespoon dry powdered mustard, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a teaspoon of black pepper. You’ll also want 2 teaspoons of cayenne or ground red pepper– that’s where you get the spice from for this spicy ketchup! Bring this to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until it begins to thicken.
As the tomato mixture thickens, bring 1 quart of vinegar and 1 cup of brown sugar to a boil in a separate pan. Once it comes to a boil, dump it straight into the tomato juice mixture carefully.
Continue cooking until the mixture thickens quite a bit, to the consistency of ketchup.
Bottle it up, and when it’s cool, it’s ready to be served alongside your favorite fries, some burgers, or hot dogs. Trust me, this ketchup will be the hit of any summer cookout– just warn people, it bites back! I love this ketchup because it’s unlike any other I’ve ever tried.
A few people ask me, though, “why isn’t it red?” Well, when you make your ketchup from home, there are no added dyes or preservatives, and that lack of dye means a richer, darker color. Don’t worry, that’s how it’s supposed to look, and it means GREAT flavor.
If you aren’t keen on spice, you can, of course, reduce the amount of ground cayenne that you put in, which will make your spicy ketchup, well… a little less spicy. I wouldn’t recommend adding more unless you’re spice crazy, but all of the listed spices can be adjusted for your own personal taste!
Secret Recipe Spicy Ketchup
2015-05-19 07:34:57
This recipe, passed down from a great grandmother, is perfect for a summer cookout-- but be warned, it bites back!
Ingredients
- 1 peck ripe tomatoes
- 3 onions, diced small
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1 Tbsp ground dry mustard
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp clove
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 quart vinegar
- 1 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Cut tomatoes and place in a large pot with onions.
- Cook one hour over medium heat and press the slices through a strainer. Discard or save pulp and seeds for another recipe, or place juice back in pot.
- Add salt and spices to tomato juice, then cook rapidly until it begins to thicken.
- In a separate pot, boil sugar and vinegar. When it comes to a boil, then pour into tomato juice mixture.
- Cook until thickened, then bottle and let cool.
Mama Plus One https://www.mamaplusone.com/
If you’re looking for the perfect summer fare, don’t forget to check out my favorite restaurant-style fry sauce recipe and french fry/steakburger seasoning! You’ll also love these Mississippi Mud Cheesy Potatoes, which make the perfect cookout side!
What’s YOUR favorite summer cookout must-have?
You may also like -
- Just-Like-Freddy’s Fry Sauce and Seasoning
- Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Dogs
- Spicy-As-Heck Sticky Ribs
- Bangin’ Hot Buffalo Chicken
FAQs
This, along with the tomato and seasonings, gives ketchup its characteristic flavor. Seasonings. Chili Powder (or use cayenne powder for a spicier kick), ground mustard, ground cloves, allspice, black pepper, salt.
What are the ingredients in Whataburger spicy ketchup? ›
Tomato Concentrate (Tomato Paste, Water), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Red Jalapeno Pepper Puree, Sugar, Salt, Onion Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Garlic Powder, Spices, Natural Flavor.
What are the spices in Heinz ketchup? ›
We all know ketchup as a tomato-based product, but it's certainly not tomato sauce or tomato paste. The tangy-sweet sauce contains vinegar, onions, garlic, some kind of sweetener, and seasonings like mustard powder, cumin, allspice and cinnamon.
Is there any Spice in ketchup? ›
Tomato ketchup is made from tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar, with seasonings and spices. The spices and flavors vary, but commonly include onions, allspice, coriander, cloves, cumin, garlic, and mustard, and sometimes include celery, cinnamon, or ginger.
What are the ingredients in Heinz spicy ketchup? ›
HEINZ® TOMATO KETCHUP (TOMATO CONCENTRATE FROM RED RIPE TOMATOES, DISTILLED VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICE, ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORING), TABASCO® BRAND PEPPER SAUCE (DISTILLED VINEGAR, RED PEPPER, SALT), NATURAL FLAVORING.
Is sriracha just spicy ketchup? ›
Sriracha has a lot more going on. It's composed of chili, garlic, sugar, salt, distilled, vinegar, potassium sorbate, sodium bisulfate, and xanthan gum. It's also far thicker than its distant cousin, Tabasco sauce, and more accurately resembles a thin ketchup.
Why does Whataburger ketchup taste different? ›
What makes the ketchup different is a blend of spices and fresh ingredients, said Rich Scheffler, vice president of marketing and innovation for Whataburger.
Did Whataburger change their spicy ketchup? ›
The ketchup that took Whataburger fans by storm in 2022 when it was released as a limited-time offer under the name Spicy Ketchup Limited Batch #2 is back, and this time, its secret spice is revealed: Cholula® Original Hot Sauce!
Who makes jalapeno ketchup? ›
SpiceItUp!, The Jalapeno Ketchup Company.
What ketchup does Mcdonalds use? ›
The company may have a surprisingly tasty collection of dipping sauces, but their ketchup has a compelling quality of its own, too. In particular, McDonald's ketchup isn't a commercially-available brand like Heinz or Hunt's, it's their own proprietary blend -- and that makes all the difference.
Heinz Fiery Chilli Tomato Ketchup, 255g.
Should ketchup be refrigerated? ›
Even Heinz weighed in on the subject a few years ago, stating that “because of its natural acidity, Heinz® Ketchup is shelf-stable. However, its stability after opening can be affected by storage conditions. We recommend that this product, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening.
What is Chinese ketchup? ›
Ketchup has a surprisingly long evolution that originated in China. The first version was based on pickled fish and looked more like a soy sauce – with a dark and thin texture. It was called “keh-jup” or “koe-cheup,” meaning “fish sauce.”
What is ketchup seasoning? ›
What Is Ketchup Seasoning? You're probably wondering how TJ's achieves a ketchup flavor in powder form. Believe it or not, the ingredients are straightforward, consisting of tomato powder, sugar, kosher salt, vinegar powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and rice concentrate.
What's the difference between ketchup and catsup? ›
As it turns out, they're the same thing! Ketchup and catsup are both Westernized terms for a condiment that has origins in China: fish sauce. Ketchup as we know it today is a modernized version of fish sauce, which was made in port towns on the South China Sea with salted and fermented anchovies.
Is ketchup a tomato or chilli? ›
Thick & Rich ketchup made from red ripe tomatoes
Heinz Tomato Ketchup is made only from sweet, juicy, red ripe tomatoes for the signature thick and rich taste of Americas Favorite Ketchup.
Does ketchup neutralize spicy food? ›
Add acid.
To counteract spiciness, a lot of their dishes use a liberal amount of acid from citrus, vinegar, or even ketchup. A spoonful can really do wonders to balance out and counteract the spiciness.
Can ketchup be seasoning? ›
Ketchup is a polarizing condiment—does it belong on top of fries, next to them, nowhere near them? Everyone has strong opinions when it comes to the condiment, but it undoubtedly one of America's favorites, so it should come as no surprise that Trader Joe's decided to turn it into a seasoning blend. That's right.
What's the difference between ketchup and chili sauce? ›
The main difference between Heinz Chili Sauce and Heinz Ketchup is that the chili sauce contains onions rather than onion powder, and the spices are slightly different.
