Tomato Sauce (Ketchup) - with photos

[quirkycooking]

I've had a couple of people ask me for my tomato sauce recipe, so here it is...  This is basically how I make mine, although I adjust it quite often.  We really like it, and I find it great not only as 'ketchup', but also as a baking sauce for chicken, ribs, roast, meatloaf, etc.  When I've got to go out for the day, I often just throw some chicken pieces or beef ribs into the crockpot, pour this sauce over, and leave it to cook until tender (usually 4 hours on high, or 8 hours on low - except beef ribs which take about 6 hours on high and I add a bit of water so they don't dry out).  Adjust seasonings to taste, and try some of the variations below to get it just how you like it.

1. Chop speed 6, 5 seconds, then saute for 3 mins, 100 degrees, speed 1:
- 2 onions, halved
- 1/2 a head of garlic (head, not clove)
- 50g olive oil
 
2. Add ingredients, chop on speed 5 for 5 seconds, and cook at 100 degrees, speed 1, 40 mins:
- 800g tomatoes
- 200g tomato paste
- 80g apple cider vinegar
- 100g tamari / soy sauce
- 100g Rapadura
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
 
3. Slowly turn dial up to speed 9 to puree for 40 seconds, or until smooth as you like.
 
The original recipe said 130g vinegar, 150g soy sauce, and 80g sweetener, but I found it too tart, so I changed it.  Adjust to taste.
 
Optional ingredients for a different flavour:
- basil
- black pepper
- hot chillies
- chives
- oregano
- parsley
- rosemary
- thyme
- sun-dried tomatoes
 
For Barbeque Sauce: add to main recipe 4 tsp chilli powder (or to taste) and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)

Meatloaf topped with sauce before cooking

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[judydawn]

Good one thanks Jo.  How much does it make and how long would it last in the fridge - or do you freeze smaller quantities.

[quirkycooking]

Well, it doesn't last long at our house, because my boys seem to think everything tastes better with tomato sauce - lol! 
But I have had it in the fridge for a few weeks once and it was fine.  It makes over a litre - not sure of the exact amount.  I put it into jars/bottles, or if I'm going to freeze some I just freeze it in plastic containers.

[judydawn]

Thanks for that - funny, my 4 yr old GD doesn't like tomato sauce which is most unusual although I did get her to have some on her potato rosti by making a funny face on mine with the sauce.  Of course, she had to have a face on hers too but then she turned it over so that she thought she was eating them plain

[Very Happy Jan]

Thanks for this recipe Quirkycooking. I have been contemplating making my own tomato sauce for a while  as one of my boys puts it on everything. I've been thinking about the health implications of the preservatives in the commercial variety so this is the perfect solution.

[faffa_70]

You won't regret it VHJ, my 4yo thinks that he can't consume food unless it is covered in BBQ sauce!! So I started making my own BBQ sauce for the exact same reason you are thinking about it, and at a guess would be the reason Jo makes hers

[brazen20au]

jo i[m guessing you peel the half head of garlic?

will definitely give this a try

[gertbysea]

This recipe looks far better than mine. Thanks.
Gretchen

[quirkycooking]

jo i[m guessing you peel the half head of garlic?

Yes, definitely!

You won't regret it VHJ, my 4yo thinks that he can't consume food unless it is covered in BBQ sauce!! So I started making my own BBQ sauce for the exact same reason you are thinking about it, and at a guess would be the reason Jo makes hers

Yes, that's why I make it - the commercial ones are so full of sugar and who knows what else!  My 8 yr old still prefers the bought stuff, which is why I have a BIG sticker on the front of the bottle saying 'Mum's DELICIOUS Tomato Sauce' - I'm hoping it will enter his subconcious and make him think mine is more delicious! lol 

[JulieO]

Quirky cooking, I've made the ketchup from the EDC and we thought that was quite good, but I can't wait to make yours now, thanks for posting. 

[CreamPuff63]

Love the top pic with the big label and underlined delicious 

[Very Happy Jan]

Can't believe it. I went to my favourite bulk vegetable supplier yesterday to buy the tomatoes for this ketchup and it's burnt down.     At least no one was hurt as it happened  before the staff came in for work. Will have to search for another place until they get up and running again.                                                                                                                               

[cookie1]

Yes, that was not good VHJ. It was a good place to go down to when you needed things like lots of cheap tomatoes. We often called in on the way to Rockingham.

[brazen20au]

wow VHJ, that's not good

i never see cheap tomatoes, usuall around $3-4/kg is about the cheapest. i might have to try to visit the markets at shut down time and see if i can get some cheap

[faffa_70]

You must be in the same area as me then VHJ! We were meant to go on Wednesday and just never got there...hope the council does allow them to open temporarily in new premises