There is sugar in EVERYTHING. Nearly all packaged or processed food contains added sugar. It is an epidemic. Fresh Tomato Paleo Ketchup saves the day with sweet ketchup goodness without a pile of sugar.
Well, tomatoes aren't in season anymore, but ketchup always is. I spent my free time last summer learning how to preserve. I canned: peaches, pears, applesauce, tomatoes, salsa, and ketchup. For well over a month I had a counter covered in tomatoes in different stages of ripening, 140 pounds of tomatoes made its way into little jars in some way or another. Do you know what all my friends and family are getting for holiday gifts? Can you guess? I'll give you a hint… it had some sort of fruit in it. Home canning is a gift that was made with: tears (cutting onions), some sweat, a couple burns and scalds, and a whole lot of love. I was inspired and adapted from a fellow Canadian food blogger. Valerie made this recipe a couple of times, and like her, I made my version a couple times before settling on this combination of spices.
There are so many things you can use this ketchup for! And of course feel free to make it your own, substitute balsamic vinegar for an extra tang. Like it spicy? How about a couple chili peppers?
Have you ever made or had homemade Fresh Tomato Paleo Ketchup? What other twists on the classic ketchup can you think of? Please share them in the comments!

Fresh Tomato Paleo Ketchup
Description
A classic, but this one isn't filled with sugar and food coloring!
Ingredients
- 5 lbs tomatoes skinned
- 1.5 cup onion diced
- 4 Bay leaves
- paprika (I used 2 tbsp but it is always easier to start with less and add to YOUR taste)
- cayenne (I used 2 tbsp but it is always easier to start with less and add to YOUR taste)
- 2 tsp mustard seed
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 3 tsp pink peppercorns
- 3 allspice berries
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp sea salt
Instructions
- Blanch tomatoes and skin.
- Add tomatoes to a large pot and bring to a simmer.
- Add onions, apple cider vinegar, and all spices.
- Continue to simmer, stirring often.
- Simmer and reduce approx 45 min.
- Remove cinnamon sticks, and blend (immersion blender works great) or strain (press the pulp through a fine sieve removing seeds and large chunks of spices).
- Return to a pot, add salt and honey and simmer again, stirring regularly until desired thickness is reached.
- Spoon into sterilized jars and water bath can 20 min. (Possibly longer depending on your elevation, please check the HFP)
Notes
Need some gear?
Canning kit
Jar kits
- Category: Condiments
mmm…i think your measurements are wrong, maybe these are all supposed to be teaspoons, 2 tablespoons of paprika is A LOT!
It certainly does seem so, but after a few attempts that is what I used. I suggest putting in less, and then adjusting to taste, as everyone had different personal tastes! Plus it’s suuuper tricky to try to un-spice something, nearly impossible in fact. It is quite a large batch of tomatoes I used, 5lbs filled a large pot, so all those spices get diluted. But add what you feel comfortable with!! And let me know how it goes!
Great Sauce but got the measurements are incorrect. Put far less paprika & cayenne pepper & pepper corns & you will love it.
Thanks Charmaine, I loved it the way it was; but taste preferences vary greatly from person to person, I like things with a bold flavour!
Well my ketchup is ruined, way, way too spicy & we love heat! Obviously the measurements are wrong, wish I would have read the comments before making. What a waste of my garden tomatoes. It’s very frustrating that whoever typed this recipe doesn’t know the difference between teaspoon & tablespoon measurements.
That does suck, and it is nearly impossible to un-spice something. I did actually use the measurements written, and my tomatoes are coming in now, I will revisit this recipe.