Kickin’ Homemade Tomato Catsup

This recipe is great for an abundance of fresh tomatoes or good canned crushed tomatoes. I bought a 6 pound #10 can of really good crushed tomatoes, divided them and made some tomato paste out of a little bit and froze the rest. Here’s what happens when you decide to go on a low carb diet for awhile and want catsup! Make your own without sugar and make it spicy. This could also turn into a pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce or meat/chicken/fish/shrimp sauce. It is a take-off of a Fannie Farmer recipe. Gee, it just tastes good!

Kickin’ Homemade Tomato Catsup

Makes 2 1/2 Cups

4 C chopped fresh tomatoes or canned crushed tomatoes
1-2 garlic cloves halved lengthwise
Place in a mesh teaball or some cheesecloth or muslin:
1 1/2″ stick cinnamon*
1/2 tsp peppercorns slightly crushed*
1/2 tsp whole cloves*
1/2 tsp whole allspice berries*
Stir and cook in a medium saucepan uncovered over low heat for about 30 minutes.

Add:
1/2 tsp celery seeds
1 tsp ground paprika
1/4-1/2 ground cayenne pepper
1/2+ tsp sea salt
1/2 C cider vinegar
Stir and taste.
OK this next bit is “if needed”. Tomatoes can be really sweet or not so sweet. You need to taste the mix before you add Splenda or the Maple Syrup. Add some liquid Splenda if you are REALLY adhering to the induction phase of the low carb diet, if you are not, then add 1/2 tsp Pure Maple Syrup. Stir and cook slow and low until thickened (about 1 hour). Cool then puree in a blender or food chopper (I used my mini food chopper-it holds about 3 cups). Place in a jar or bottle and refrigerate overnight. Taste and adjust the sweet or salty and liquid (vinegar) or some olive oil to your taste. If your are using fresh tomatoes, reserve the liquid and add that if needed. You can also use the tomato liquid in soups and sauces.

*If you don’t have the whole spice, just add the ground version with all the other ground spices.