Do your kids just LOVE ketchup? Too bad the commonly available, store-bought ketchups are often full of high fructose corn syrup and other undesirable ingredients, like preservatives and lots of salt. 

Tomatoes are very healthy, and making ketchup yourself is a quick and easy, child-friendly cooking activity. Helena (five years old) did it! No need to restrain ketchup usage anymore.

Ingredients

• about 350 g or about 1.5 cups of tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar (or other vinegar)
• 1/2 tbsp. maple syrup or honey
• pepper to taste
• pinch of salt (omit this if the tomato paste comes salted)
• about 1/2 cup of water

Optionally – mix according to your taste

• 4 cloves (grind in a mortar if needed)
• 1 tsp Chinese five space or a mixture of e.g. nutmeg, cinnamon, fennel, star anise
• Bragg’s seasoning
• 1/2 tsp sage

Instructions

1. mix all the spices
2. add water to get desired consistency
3. fill into a bottle (old ketchup containers do well)
4. refrigerate until ready!

For longer shelf life, boil the container if made of glass.