How to Make Ketchup in a Pinch

Ketchup is America's most popular condiment for good reason. It contains all five elements of taste in one delicious bite: salty, sweet, bitter, sour and umami, known as the fifth taste, meaning savory or meaty. Understanding the five flavors in ketchup will help you put together, and even improvise, a homemade ketchup in a pinch from ingredients you may already have in your pantry. In this master ketchup recipe template, tomato paste serves as the umami component, adding richness and body. Vinegar is the sour element. Corn syrup, sugar or honey provides sweetness, while garlic and onion adds bitterness. Add salt, and you have all five tastes.

Things You'll Need

• 1 6 oz. can of tomato paste
• 1/2 cup of vinegar (see tips)
• 1/2 cup of sweetener (see tips)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 1/4 cups water
• Optional seasonings (see tips)

Instructions

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients, except for the optional seasonings, in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce the heat to low.

2. Simmer the mixture gently, stirring frequently, for approximately thirty minutes, or until it thickens to the consistency of ketchup.

3. Taste and adjust the seasoning to balance out the flavors, adding a bit more of any of the flavor components according to your preferences. Add one or more of the optional seasonings, if desired.

4. Continue cooking for two to three more minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Let the ketchup cool.

5. Store ketchup in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use any vinegar to make ketchup. Cider vinegar, plain white vinegar, white or dark balsamic vinegar and Sherry vinegar are among the many options. Each will impart its own distinctive flavor to the ketchup.

• Commercial ketchup is sweetened with corn syrup. To achieve a taste similar to store bought brands, use light or dark corn syrup as your sweetener. You can also sweeten your ketchup with other liquid sweeteners such as honey or even maple syrup. White or brown sugar can be used as well. To do this, dissolve 1/2 cup of sugar in 1/8 cup of hot water before adding it to the ketchup mixture.

• Customize your ketchup to your taste using different spices. You could make ketchup that is hot and spicy, or sweet and aromatic. Experiment with international flavors such as Moroccan, Indian or Mexican spices. Some spices to try include allspice, cloves, cinnamon, dry mustard, cumin, cayenne pepper, chipotle powder and smokey Spanish paprika.

References

• All About Ketchup
• "The New Yorker" magazine; "The Ketchup Conundrum;" Malcolm Gladwell; September 6, 2004
• Heinz Ketchup Recipe

Resources

• "Pure Ketchup: A History of America's National Condiment With Recipes;" Andrew F. Smith; 1996