I’m a big fan of lists. Grocery lists. To-do lists. Not to-do lists. To-read lists. Covet lists. I-totally-want-to-drink-that lists. I’m-jealous-of-your-hair lists. Wake-up-early-and-change-the-world lists. Sweep-the-dang-kitchen-floor lists.
My favorite, and most recent list is the Summer Bucket List: a dreamy list of things I want to do while the sun (and I) stay up late. Do you have one of these lists? ooh I hope so! Tracy and I have talked about our Summer Bucket List on the Joy the Baker Podcast (are you hip to that yet!?). Here’s a peek at the Bucket List happenings:
– Go on and Get Crafty!
– Walk around New York City like I know what’s up! Sometimes this is hard for a California girl… but I’m totally doing it riiiight now!
– It’s time for a public dance spectacle. Oooh ya. It’s real. As soon as I learn some moves I’m doing this!
– Eat too many hotdogs, in a pool, wearing floaties, during sunset. Sounds like the weirdest, most romantic eating contest ever. Awesome.
– Beach bonfire. With a trampoline. Does this only happen in The Big Lebowski?
Also on my list: Make Homemade Ketchup! It’s happening!
Yes… you can totally buy ketchup at the grocery in a squeeze bottle. Pffft. It’s so satisfying to make and majorly easy to customize. Buck-it! It’s summer!
Ketchup starts with onion, garlic, and spices.
Did you know that ketchup has so many spices in it? Heck yes! A good base to start with is clove, allspice, mustard powder, and smokey paprika.
As a kick in the pants, I added a big bit of yellow curry powder!
Other ketchup heavy-hitters are: crushed canned tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and tomato paste. It just needs a good boiling. About an hour of slow boiling turns this mixture into a luscious ketchup creation.
I like to blend the ketchup with an immersion blender and strain it through a fine mesh strainer.
No seeds and super smooth!
… Just look at this! This is inappropriately exciting.
The presence of ketchup really just means one thing: FRENCH FRIES!!! You best believe I’m showing you how to make these little fried potato gems on Friday. Get your ketchup going in preparation. It’s totally a weeknight activity.
The curry in this ketchup lends a subtle yet really enticing flavor to the mixture. It’s sweet and round, has just the right amount of acid, and the combination of clove, mustard, paprika, and curry really just knows how to work. I love that I can boil this in my kitchen. It feels like magic.
I hope you’re inspired to make this! We have fries in our future!
Homemade Curry Ketchup
makes about 3 cups
recipe adapted from What’s Gaby Cooking and Saveur
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground yellow curry
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon smokey paprika
big pinch ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Place oil in a medium saucepan, over medium heat. I used a 3 quart sauce pan and it seemed like the perfect fit. Saute onions until they are transparent, tender, and begin to brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute more. Add the tomato paste, salt, and all of the spices to the pan. Stir until the tomato paste is evenly distributed, and the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. Add brown sugar, vinegar, and crushed tomatoes. Stir to combine.
Let mixture simmer over low heat for about 45 minutes. Mixture will thicken to a ketchup consistency. Stir occasionally.
Remove pan from heat, and use an immersion blender to blend to the chunky ketchup smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can carefully place the warm ketchup in a regular blender to blend smooth. Just be sure to leave the blender lid slightly ajar so the warm contents don’t burst. After using either an immersion or regular blender, strain ketchup through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. This will remove any unwanted seeds.
Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Store ketchup in glass jars in the fridge. Ketchup will last for up to 1 month in the fridge!
117 Responses
Super yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
Can you can this recipe so it lasts without refrigeration?
Sure!
Lol I lived in Germany for many yrs and after coming back to UK have always missed currywurst. I made this today and shall be testing out on.the family later. This tastes pretty close but it’s rather sweet maybe I will use less sugar next time :))
was so bored that i made this ketchup today changed only a few ingredients, I am not that crazy about curry ,so I cut the amount in half. Turned out great. I putting everything in jars this summer. I love your blog. You inspire creativity. Thanks M.G.
Joy, so wait.. is that 1/2 an 8-ounce can crushed tomatoes with juice? So 4 ounces? Just checking before I make a batch. Thanks!
One 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes. The large can.
YUMMMMY!!! Just tried it, and it is faboosh. For me, I would add about 1/2 as much sugar, but that is just because I like it a little less sweet. Other than that, 2 thumbs up. I am taking it to a cook out tonight and am confident it will be a huge hit! Thanks so much!
So, this post really gave me a kick in the pants to finally get around to making homemade ketchup… I finally did it this morning (not yours, I have to wait until I get my braces off because curry powder stains them all yellow! Yuck!), and it was so delicious!! I can’t wait to give your recipe a try!
My husband is a Heinz guy (from the right area of PA), so I’ll have to try this one on him right after I perfect my own ketchup recipe.
Curry ketchup is a staple in Berlin. They are mad for it. Mad. They eat it on sausages and call it Currywurst. You should do a version!
Love the ketchup jars. Where did you find those?
the jars are just from a restaurant supply store.
Oh yes sir! Curry is my go-to for low-sodium homemade ketchup. And yours looks totally luscious.
Thank you for saying “buck it” How fun : )
Could I just leave out the curry for regular ketchup? The hubs isn’t a curry fan…
yes! just leave it out! no problem.
I printed off your recipe and was about to make it. Then I noticed that there wasn’t any tomatoes listed. Went back on line and realized your drop fown covers 2 ingredients when printing. The crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Would be nice if you could correct that. Thanks
Joy – LOVE the cute little jars you used for your ketchup! Can you share what type they are where you got them? I’d love to get some for ketchup and other goodies that I like to give as gifts :)
Total agree, yes those jars are so cute! I did a little sleuthing online and found them at Sur La Table – the are Bormioli Rocco Quattro Stagioni Jars. *runs off to order!
Thank you! I’m heading out to pick some up today – lucky for me there’s a Sur la Table close by!
Would it work to multiply the batch and water bath process this to can it and keep longer?
yes! this recipe would work well in larger batches and can be canned using the proper canning process! enjoy!
You are (or were) in NYC? Did you sign (or are you going to be signing) any books here??
i was in NYC! yes! but i was there on other business-y business… not book signings.
Ooooo this looks good especially on fries. I don’t really like the commercial ketchups since they’re too sweet but this looks good.
My jaw dropped when I saw this recipe. I live in Berlin, Germany, where one of the local specialties is ‘Currywurst’, which is curried ketchup with fried pork sausage and French fries. It’s tradition that every mayor gets a photograph of himself eating Currywurst.
Amazing that you got this concept! Have you heard of Currywurst?
Nikki, the last time I visited Berlin currywurst and pommes were all I ate. I stayed in the fabulous hostel, and across the street from it was a vender that sold really cheap, REALLY good fries. He always sprinkled curry on them, and I got some almost every night. My best friend and I believe that curry and ketchup were made to go together, and we just can’t understand why they haven’t figured that out here in the States. Sooooo yummy!
hi joy! just made this and i’m amazed at how delicious it is. (not that i’d be amazed about one of your recipes being delicious, just that a humble ketchup could be so much more tasty than i expected. clearly i underestimated it.) anyway, i flunked the sieve step, since only the most liquid part went through–and the rest sat on the top like a mush of tomato guts. i gave it time, and tried smushing it through with a wooden spoon, but no luck. any suggestions? thanks!
Emily…one suggestion. I did not have canned tomatoes in the house, but I did have some fresh one’s that were on the verge of going icky. I quartered the whole tomatoes (about 4 pounds), then stewed them in 1/4c of water for about 20 minutes until they were nice and soft. I then put them through the sieve, which got rid of the seeds and skins. As a secondary step, I also made a bag using cheesecloth to get the last little bits of juice out. You’re left with mostly liquid and fine pulp after both steps — it’s a little messy, but gets the most out of the tomatoes. From there, I followed the recipe, subbing in my tomato ‘juice’ for the canned tomatoes at the appropriate moment. It came out PERFECT. Oh my. I hope this helps!
I love dropping by to drool over your latest creations and I love the idea behind this curry ketchup… I’m featuring this post in Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution). I hope you have no objections and it’s always a pleasure following you…
I love this!! I’m a huge fan of curry so this will fit in my household perfectly :)
mmm what a nice recipe! it’s so hard to find ketchup without hfc in it (yes i’m one of those people), so i will just have to make my own!
I wonder if I could do this in the slow cooker? Maybe I will try and report back.
Ooh…I like that idea!
My summer bucket list includes meeting you and Tracy soon. Maybe we could share some ketchup…Maybe? This looks so good I think I could put it on everything. Kind of like I do with salsa. Hope NYC is awesome!
that’s so soon!!
Looks tasty! If you ever want to try another ketchup horizon, here’s a link to Watermelon Ketchup from the LA Times. It takes a while to make, but it’s unexpectedly delicious! https://www.latimes.com/la-fo-watermelonrec25-1jun25,0,6148851.story
Yum! Looks so good. Who would have thought mustard is in ketchup?
adahliavolk.com
i love ketchup! This curry version sounds freakin awesome :D
I’ve been hacing curry-related food dreams recently and now I know what to do with them. Make this ketchup! This would be aweosme on a veggie burger!
I’ve been wanting to make homemade ketchup for a while now… But now I want THIS ketchup. Homemade ketchup. I’m a ketchup addict and this looks like it could be one of the best!
Yes! Thank you for this recipe, Joy. I’ve been looking around for a ketchup recipe that seems thick and spicy enough to satisfy. I’ll never outgrow my deep and undying love for ketchup—sometimes I choose what I’m going to eat based on what I can smother in ketchup!
Ooooo, looks lovely. Might have to give this a try. x
Ooooooooo…I love french fries and I love ketchup. And I love lists. Perfect!
I love lists too. They’re always too many and always too long! In my summer bucket list there’s no ketchup, but there are popsicles and homemade horchata ;-)
There’s an old Doris Day/James Garner movie called “The Thrill of It All” where she makes “catsup”. When I saw it, I thought, “Who makes ‘catsup’?” Now I know, it might be me!
I am so into this! Totally inappropriately exciting
My husband came back from Munich totally in love with currywurst. I ran across that very Saveur recipe and it’s the best! We put the sausage slices and sauce over french fries. Crazy delicious. I’m looking forward to the french fry post cause those look awesome!!
Sausages and fries with sauce? Heaven!
That’s a lot of ketchup for one month’s use. I’ll have to research how to can it. Sounds very tasty.
I find that it makes great gifts!
YUM- can’t wait to make this to serve with grilled sausage. Will try to recreate the curry wurst I’ve had in Berlin!
This couldn’t have come at a better time. Cannot wait to try it.
ketchup is also on my list and yours looks and sounds delicious. Those fries look great too.
Oh my gosh, I love curry ketchup!!! Ever since I discovered it, I’ve made my own ghetto version – red curry paste mixed with water, added to my ketchup from a bottle. But making my own ketchup has been on my I-want-to-do-this-because-it-is-going-to-be-so-darn-tasty list…and you’ve made it possible. Thanks! Good luck with your bucket list!
I am most intrigued by “the list’ – one thing I can do quite well. Accomplish said listed items? Hmmmm . . . that’s a whole different recipe ususally containing many hard-to-find ingredients! But dance spectacle? It’s a blast! I’m sooo there! Except my hair would NEVER EVER cooperate like the girl’s in the laundromat. (And it would have to be done somewhere near a hospital, i..e. my body wouldn’t cooperate either!) Next list item: consult with hair stylist. – Even a bad haircut would be less painful! But there just has to be a way!!
Great blog! Thanks.
I hear you on the hair… 100%.
God this sounds good!! I love curry! It looks soo pretty in those jars too…the color is amazing! I agree with the above comment, it would make a wonderful Christmas present. I can’t imagine anyone not appreciating a bottle of this beauty!!
Oh, I love the idea of making our own ketchup! I’m thinking this is a good one to remember for a DIY Christmas gift!!
Mmm now I want this ketchup and nice crispy fries!
I’ve got a big old list going here:
https://theusualbliss.com/life-list/
TONS of summer options and I’m working on them! So fun! PS The Big Lebowski is brilliant…! :)
I love lists too! I make a seasonal list of fun things to do. Spring’s list included puddle jumping, going to the tulip festival, and make pickled radishes. This summer’s highlights include: ride the big wheel in Seattle, make 5 different kinds of pie, and have a baby.
This looks amazing and was indeed on my things I really want to try in the kitchen list. I’m probably going to lacto-ferment it. Google it! Yummy flavor with the good stuff our bodies need.
Love this! Making ketchup is going on my summer bucket list, too. :)
Oh lists…I am a HIDEOUS list maker. I too, make them for everything, including putting things on the list that I’ve already done so that I can check them off right away and get a head start.
Ha! Take that Lists!
Confession: I hate ketchup. I think it’s weird, and gross, and I hate it. Now dipping french fries in mayo? Bring it on.
I do however love curry…so you’ve got me thinking maybe I just hate crappy ketchup. Maybe it’s time to try making my own…
My kids love ketchup – maybe I should try making this. It sounds really easy!!! Thanks for another great recipe :)
Ketchup…clearly the best condiment. EVER :)
And I’ll be walking around NYC soon too! California girls taking on the city, I tell ya.
I’ve been itching to get on the whole “DIY condiment” train but have been less than enthused by the pretty typical salad dressing recipes out there. But this? Oh this is SO getting made. ASAP.
Thanks for sharing, Joy!
@
I am definitely going to have to start a Not-To-Do List.
Can’t wait for the fries recipe (which will be on my TO-DO list). They look amazing.
I am so doing this!!! Maybe I’ll can some and give it as gifts. Love the curry addition.
I’m not a huge ketchup fan, but this looks really good. And homemade sauces are always the best.
My summer bucket list includes things like finish longterm projects that won’t be finished by the end of summer. I should stop aiming high and stick to your hotdog in the pool idea.
Mmmmmm! I love curry ketchup on my burgers. Nomz.
Joy – where did your jars come from? I’m in love.
One of our favorite burger places here in Nashville has a curry ketchup that my husband always gets on his burger. SO good. We save our fries for their beer gravy though. And I save my belly for their stroganoff burger.
Hmmm perfect with burger and fries from my home! :)
Joy, this sounds delish!! I really hate the high sugar content and artificiality of store-bought ketchup, so this is a must make. Thx!!
After my adventures making mayonnaise this week, this sounds totally do-able. Not to mention that ketchup isn’t a staple here like it is in the US. Then… then… BBQ sauce, the king of all sauces? Made with homemade ketchup. Yeah buddy.
OMG! You’vve answered my unasked prayers! I ADORE ketchup! And so does my sister and dad. We go through a BIG bottle of ketchup in about a week. We always need to have a stash of at least three extra bottles in the pantry. Once there was no ketchup in the house… boy was that a sad night.
It’s amazing you came up with this! :)
I’m so making this! On a recent trip up to Victoria, we had fish and chips and got curry ketchup to dip the “chips” in. I had never seen or heard of it before and couldn’t stop with the chips because the curry ketchup was so good. Great recipe idea and on my to make list!
ain’t no thing wrong with ketchup and fries…and hot-dog-pool dinner.
Ketchup like that seems totally worth the effort it takes to make. It makes me think about what’s on my summer bucket list…. I know I want to pickle lots of delicious veggies!
gotta love a good ketchup! This one is super unique!
I always pondered the idea of making ketchup at home. I never did it just because of laziness. Your recipe looks really really good and those French fries….awwww…
Yes! I need this in my life & tomorrow it’s happening. I may even make some for my girlfriends i’m visiting this weekend! Thanks Joy!
I’ve made homemade mustard, salad dressing, nut butter…but ketchup is a condiment I haven’t tackled yet. Yet. Because now I want to after seeing how glorious yours looks!
You are too cool. Let’s have a french fry party.
this looks delicious and totally do-able! i had a curry ketchup in berlin last november and i cannot find the brand of it anywhere! it was sweet, and thicker than ketchup, but definitely ketchup based. just added this to my bucket list :)
i just started my own blog, it would be the greatest if you checked out my site! delightfulcrab.com
I got some at a food swap I think the person put a touch of cinnamon in it. It was amazing. Also, after listening to that podcast, I think you should see the movie “Damsels in Distress” the girl’s dream is to start an international dance craze. Boom boom Pow!
That looks pretty scrumptious. I had some rather disappointing store-bought ketchup today… should really look into making my own!
Ahhh! Curry and tomatoes were totally made for each other.
made homemade ketchup (not a huge fan of it) this summer and totally love the mix of tomatos and rhubarb
oh man… curry ketchup is my FAVORITE. on a hot dog with good mayo and some chopped fresh white onion… holy crap on a cracker it’s good. first had it in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and the Dutch are really onto something. every time our friends come back to the states, I beg them to bring me a bottle because it’s SO.GOOD.
now I want a hot dog. and it’s 11:40 pm. eff.
duuuuuude. that’s awesome. i made a balsamic ketchup last week for the 4th and still have some left. YUM. i’ll give the curry a whirl next time ;).
Oh man, I can’t wait to try this. Thanks for posting. I love the idea of having fresh, homemade condiments in my fridge instead of bottle upon bottle of preserved ones.
Yes! I’ve been waiting for this post since I saw your Instagram sneak peek. Def making this soon! Also, I’m strangely reminded of Da Dip by Freak Nasty. So not the same thing, I know, but would dancing around eating fries and this ketchup be so wrong? I think not. Bucket list! :)
Joy, I live to dip. I think we need more spicy sauce in the world. Thank you for adding one more worthwhile dipping sauce to the world. I can’t wait to try it.
Will definitely have to make this for my bf :) he loves ketchup in all forms and this looks delicious. Can’t wait to see the french fries installment! I love lists (especially fun summer ones)… don’t forget your oat sodas and white russians to accompany the beach bonfire/trampoline combo :)