Make ketchup at home with ripe tomatoes

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)

Instructions:

1. Prepare tomatoes:

• Wash and chop the tomatoes. You can remove the seeds if you prefer a smoother ketchup.

Cooking tomatoes:

• In a large saucepan, combine the chopped tomatoes, onion, and garlic.
• Cook over medium heat until the tomatoes break down and the mixture becomes soft. Stir occasionally.

Strain the mixture:

• 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:

• Return the liquid to the saucepan and add vinegar, sugar, salt, black pepper, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and cayenne pepper.

Simmer:

• Simmer the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Allow it to reduce and thicken. This can take 1-2 hours.

Adjust consistency:

• If your ketchup is not thick enough for your liking, you can continue simmering until it reaches the desired consistency.

Taste and adjust:

• Taste the ketchup and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Add more sugar, salt, or spices if needed.

Cool and store:

• Allow the ketchup to cool, and then transfer it to sterilized jars or bottles. Store in the refrigerator.

Enjoy:

• 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!