Store-bought ketchup might be convenient, but most brands come loaded with refined sugar, preservatives, and unnecessary additives. This Homemade Ketchup recipe flips that script. It’s naturally sweetened with homemade date syrup, perfectly tangy, and incredibly easy to make in just 15 minutes.
Quick Look at This Recipe
- 🕗Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏰ Total Time: 15 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 4
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy – add ingredients to a saucepan, simmer, cool, and enjoy
- 🍅 Diet: 100% whole food, plant-based vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, soy-free, nut-free, low-fat
- 🙏 Daniel Fast recipe
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No refined sugar or additives: just whole-food, plant-based ingredients.
- Customizable flavor: adjust the tang, sweetness, or spice to suit your taste.
- Quick and easy: one bowl, one whisk, and you’re done in minutes.
- Kid-approved: smooth, familiar, and free from artificial ingredients.
- Perfect for meal prep: lasts up to 10 days in the fridge.
- Tomato paste: rich in lycopene for antioxidant support.
- Daniel Fast sauce and Starch Solution recipe.
What's In This Homemade Ketchup Recipe
- Tomato Paste: The base of the ketchup. Rich, thick, and full-bodied, it delivers that classic tomato flavor and smooth texture.
- Homemade Date Syrup: Replaces refined sugar with natural sweetness and a touch of caramel flavor.
A full list of ingredients with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations
- Vinegar: Use balsamic vinegar for a sweeter depth or rice vinegar for a milder tang.
- Spices: Add smoked paprika for Homemade Barbeque Sauce vibes or cayenne for a little heat.
- Texture: For a thicker ketchup, reduce water slightly; for thinner, add more water gradually.
- Sweetener: Swap date syrup for maple syrup.
How to Make Homemade Ketchup
Step 1
In a small saucepan, combine tomato paste, water, vinegar, homemade date syrup, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, and salt (if using).
Step 2
Whisk until smooth and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool completely. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Taste as you go. Adjust seasonings while it's simmering. Add more water for a thinner consistency, more date syrup for sweetness, or more vinegar for tanginess.
- Skip the salt if you’re using it with salty foods.
- For a smoother texture, blend the mixture in a high-speed blender before storing.
- Let cool completely, then transfer to a glass jar or squeeze bottle.
- Double-batch it if you think you need more than a cup of ketchup throughout the week.
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Homemade Ketchup Pairings
- Use it in our Vegan Thousand Island Dressing that goes in our Tempeh Reuben Sandwich.
- Sauce up Vegan Black Bean Sliders or Vegan Chicken Burgers.
- Of course, it's the perfect dip for our Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes, our healthy version of fries that are oil-free.
- If you're a ketchup-on-eggs kind of person, add it to our Veggie Tofu Scramble, Vegan Frittata, or our Cheesy Tofu Scramble.
Recipe FAQs
About 7 to 10 days in an airtight container. It may thicken slightly as it chills; give it a good stir. To freeze, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
Yes, because there's no added sugar, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup. Plus, you control every ingredient.
Yes. Whisk everything together cold for a quick, no-cook version. Heating deepens the flavor.
This Homemade Ketchup proves that clean eating doesn’t mean giving up your favorite condiments. With just a few pantry ingredients, you can whip up a delicious, wholesome version that’s perfect for dipping, drizzling, and adding flavor to your favorite plant-based dishes.
More Tomato-Based Sauces and Dips to Check Out
If you tried this homemade ketchup or any other recipe on our website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below! We love to get your feedback for improvement.
Homemade Ketchup
Ingredients
- 1 6-oz can tomato paste
- ½ cup water
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons homemade date syrup
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine tomato paste, water, vinegar, date syrup, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, and salt (if using).
- Whisk until smooth. Simmer over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Let it cool completely, then transfer to a glass jar or squeeze bottle.
Notes
- Taste as you go. Adjust seasonings while it's simmering. Add more water for a thinner consistency, more date syrup for sweetness, or more vinegar for tanginess.
- For a smoother texture, blend the mixture in a high-speed blender before storing.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Sersie Blue says
I made this with homemade fries and this ketchup didn’t miss a beat.