Ketchup

Ah the life of a mom of a corn free kid... sigh....lol. My latest venture has been in ketchup making.  Since going corn free, we have found that there is not a commercial ketchup that is safe for Amanda.  What 5 year old can eat fresh french fries or hash browns or tenderloins without ketchup?  I decided to use some of the abundance of tomatoes from our garden to try this recipe.  I am happy to say it was a HUGE hit with Mandie!  It takes a bit of time, but with the last of the tomatoes I am going to quarter them and freeze in gallon freezer bags for our next batch.  As it was simmering, it really smelled like I'd spilled a jug of Hunt's on the floor!  It is a bit thin, but I will play with adding a bit of guar gum.

HOMEMADE KETCHUP – free of gluten, dairy, corn

Makes about 1 pint

1 Tbsp. grapeseed oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

 ½ yellow onion, chopped

4 lbs ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped

½ cup cider vinegar

2 tsp. sea salt

1 ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

¼ tsp. ground allspice

¼ tsp. ground cayenne pepper

¼ tsp. ground ginger

½ cup packed brown sugar*

1 Tbsp. molasses

Heat oil in a wide heavy-bottomed non-reactive pan over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook, stirring, occasionally, until translucent, about 3 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring constantly.  Add the tomatoes, vinegar, salt, pepper, allspice, cayenne, and ginger and cook until the tomato pieces fall apart, about 20 minutes.

 Working in batches, puree in a blender until smooth, and strain through a food mill.  Stir in the brown sugar and molasses, return the mixture to the stove and cook again over medium heat, stirring often, until it thickens a bit more, about 30 minutes.  Taste for seasoning.

Let ketchup cool to room temp, where it will thicken a bit more, then transfer it to jars with tight fitting lids.  Will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.  Can also be canned for longer storage.  I found it not so thick, so I added 1 tsp. of guar gum to thicken it a bit more.

*Domino brand sugar is pure cane sugar and not from GMO beets.

 

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