Homemade Ketchup

Homemade Ketchup

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons olive oil

2 cups chopped red onions

1 Tablespoon fresh garlic, minced

2 teaspoons mustard powder

½ teaspoon Five spice powder

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ cup tomato paste

2 28-oz cans whole peeled tomatoes

¼ cup brown sugar

½ cup apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoon sea salt

4 Star anise pods 

Cooking directions:

1.       Heat the olive oil in a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven over a medium flame.

2.       Add chopped onion and cook for approximately five minutes until soft.

3.       Add garlic, mustard powder, 5 Spice power and cayenne.  Mix thoroughly and cook for another two minutes.

4.       Add tomato paste and canned tomatoes to the Dutch oven.

5.       Using two knives cut tomatoes in smaller pieces.

6.       Cook for three minutes stirring periodically to integrated all the spices, onion and garlic pieces.

7.       Transfer to a blender or food processor and purée until smooth.

8.       Return mixture to the Dutch oven and add brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and salt.  Mix thoroughly.

9.       Return a low flame, add the Star anise pods and simmer for one hour.

10.   Check the thickness.  You can continue to cook another 30 minutes, if needed to achieve desired thickness.

11.   Remove Star anise pods and allow ketchup to cool.

12.   Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Yield:  Approximately 5 cups