Sweet Ketchup
Wash the tomatoes under a stream of cold water, ensuring that you remove all impurities. Remove the stems and slice them, taking care to keep the juice inside. Next, prepare the celery: clean it and cut it into small pieces, which will add a crunchy texture to the sauce. Don't forget to wash the celery leaves well, as they will add extra freshness.
Next, take the apple, peel it, and remove the seeds and core. Choose the bell peppers and remove the seeds, ensuring you get a fine paste. All these ingredients, the tomatoes, celery, apple, and peppers, will be passed through a meat grinder so that the flavors and textures combine.
Put the obtained mixture into a larger pot, add a few peeled and crushed garlic cloves, then place the pot over medium heat. Let it boil for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. After the mixture has cooled slightly, it’s time to pass it through a sieve or blender to achieve a fine sauce without large pieces.
Put the sauce back on the heat, adding sugar and vinegar. Boil for 20 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. After this stage, add the spices: thyme, oregano, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust the spices to your preference. This step is essential for achieving a balanced flavor.
Let the sauce continue to boil for about 10 minutes, stirring more frequently until the sauce reduces and acquires a thick and velvety consistency. It is important for the sauce to be well thickened so that it can be preserved longer. When the sauce is ready, pour it hot into sterilized and preheated bottles to prevent them from breaking. Seal them well and wrap them in blankets to cool gradually.
After they have completely cooled, wipe the jars with a clean cloth, label them with the preparation date and ingredients, then store them in the pantry. This sauce can be used as is or as a delicious addition to soups, broths, stews, sauces, pizza, or pasta, bringing a touch of flavor to any dish. Enjoy it with family and friends, turning every meal into an unforgettable culinary experience!
Ingredients: For approximately 1 l - 2 kg tomatoes - 1/2 kg bell peppers (red bell pepper) - 1 apple (100 g) - 200 g onion - 100 g root and leaf celery - 1 clove of garlic, pressed - 1/2 tablespoon coarse salt - 1 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground - 1/2 teaspoon thyme - 1 pinch of oregano - 1 small stick of cinnamon - 100 g sugar - 30 ml 9-degree food vinegar
Tags: onion garlic tomatoes pepper sugar apples gluten-free recipes lactose-free recipes vegetarian recipes fat-free recipes
