Homemade Gourmet Ketchup UPDATED

This is by far the best ketchup I've ever tasted! This is not "kid's" condiment but a nice sophisticated tomato-based sauce that is great for fries, burgers, or anything! Use your favorite herbs and try a different vinegar like white, balsamic, or red wine rather than the cider vinegar it calls for in the recipe. You'll never want the stuff from the grocery shelves again I bet! ;)

Homemade Gourmet Ketchup

Makes about 16 ounces * Prep Time ~ 5 minutes * Cook Time ~ 68 minutes attended * Cooling/Chill Time ~ 75 minutes to overnight

Ingredients

• 28 oz tomatoes
• 1/2 cup scallions or 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar (Try 1/3 cup or so next time)
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• ground black pepper
• Fresh minced: Greek oregano, German thyme, hot & spicy oregano, lemon thyme, rosemary

Directions

1. Puree tomatoes (including puree from jar or can) in a blender until smooth.
2. Sauteed onion in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until softened, about 5-8 minutes. 
3. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally until very thick, about 1 hour (stir more frequently towards the end of cooking to prevent scorching.)
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Puree ketchup in 2 batches in the blender until smooth (use caution blending hot liquids).
6. Chill, covered, at least 1 hour for flavors to fully develop. (Though it's fine to use right away - best after it's cooled then chilled overnight).
7. May be stored up to 3 weeks in glass jar in refrigerator.

UPDATE Notes to Self: Next time, cut this in half as we don't need this much ketchup! :) Also reduce the brown sugar by 25%-50% as it sweetens as it sits. Will not last longer than 3 weeks in the fridge.

March 2016 UPDATE: This is a decent recipe (please try it), but as I'm always trying to improve on the last thing I did, I found a more delicious recipe for ketchup that I will share soon!