Ketchup is America's most popular condiment for good reason. It contains all five elements of taste in one delicious bite: salty, sweet, bitter, sour and umami, known as the fifth taste, meaning savory or meaty. Understanding the five flavors in ketchup will help you put together, and even improvise, a homemade ketchup in a pinch from ingredients you may already have in your pantry. In this master ketchup recipe template, tomato paste serves as the umami component, adding richness and body. Vinegar is the sour element. Corn syrup, sugar or honey provides sweetness, while garlic and onion adds bitterness. Add salt, and you have all five tastes.
Instructions
Instructions
1. Combine all the ingredients, except for the optional seasonings, in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce the heat to low.
2. Simmer the mixture gently, stirring frequently, for approximately thirty minutes, or until it thickens to the consistency of ketchup.
3. Taste and adjust the seasoning to balance out the flavors, adding a bit more of any of the flavor components according to your preferences. Add one or more of the optional seasonings, if desired.
4. Continue cooking for two to three more minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Let the ketchup cool.
5. Store ketchup in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Tags: optional seasonings
