Quick Sugar Free Ketchup Recipe

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This ketchup recipe is sugar free and is packed with flavor. You’ll never miss the other stuff when you can make this in ten minutes in your own kitchen with simple ingredients.

When you start paying attention to the ingredients in the food you’re eating, you might wonder why the ingredient list is two inches long. Are all those ingredients really necessary? Could it really be that hard to make condiments from scratch? No! It’s not hard at all! Welcome to the wonderful world of DIY cooking.

You’ve likely noticed the ketchup in the store is loaded with excess sugar. And who needs extra sugar in their diet? Not me. Especially not in a condiment when it’s not needed. I’d much rather eat my sugar in chocolate form…who’s with me?

Why Use Tomato Paste in Ketchup?

You can make your own ketchup from fresh tomatoes when they’re in season, but you can also use tomato paste and make it any time of the year. Of course, these days we have tomatoes year round in the grocery stores, but I really wouldn’t recommend making ketchup, or anything really, with them.

Related: How to Make Pizza Sauce with Tomato Paste

If you’ve ever eaten a tomato fresh off the vine in tomato season, you know what a tomato should taste like. The flavorless “tomatoes” you’ll find in the grocery store were likely picked when green and shipped from somewhere else.

When you take fruit (like a tomato) off the plant before it’s ripe, the sugars haven’t developed fully (and won’t). That means you get very little flavor. And it’s just not worth it, in my opinion.

So I like to use tomato paste. Specifically, I like using organic tomato paste where “tomatoes” are the only ingredient. We buy ours at Costco. Apparently you can buy it on Amazon too if you don’t have a Costco near you.

Simple, High Quality Ingredients

When you make your own, you get to decide what goes in, and what stays out. This recipe uses tomato paste, no added sugar, and simple seasonings. The tomato paste is plenty sweet as it is.

Simple Homemade Ketchup Recipe

Here are the steps we’ll take to make this ketchup:

1. Make the clove oil
2. Add the tomato paste
3. Add the seasonings
4. Divide it into jars. Freeze all but one.

Make the Clove Oil

The secret to making the ketchup taste like what you’re used to (or close to it) is the clove oil. And making clove-infused oil is really simple. To make clove oil, put a few whole cloves into olive oil (or avocado oil) in a pot on the stove.

Turn the burner on medium-low and cook it for 5 minutes. The cloves will spice the oil and will add a delicious flavor to the ketchup. After 5 minutes, take the cloves out and turn off the burner.

Add the Tomato Paste and Seasonings

Next, add the tomato paste, vinegar, water, and seasonings to the oil (make sure you removed the whole cloves first). Stir to combine.

Time to Eat!

And now you’re done! It’s really that simple.

Storing it for later

I think half pint (8 oz) mason jars are a great size to use. Choose your jars carefully though. Use this style (or this one) so you don’t have a lip at the edge. We don’t want wasted sauce in hard-to-reach places.

This recipe will make enough for 3 half pint (8 oz) mason jars.

You can store this ketchup in the fridge for 2-3 weeks, or freeze it for several months.

Time To Make Your Own Sugar Free Ketchup

If you’d like to make your own sugar free ketchup, this recipe is for you! It uses simple, nourishing ingredients and delivers delicious taste. Perfect for dipping your sweet potato fries or spreading on your burger.

Looking for more recipes? Make your own fry sauce by mixing your ketchup with this easy homemade mayo, mustard, and pickles. And if you’re looking for more ways to use tomato paste, here’s a delicious pizza sauce recipe your family will love.

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