If you are doing a Whole30, you know that condiments are what get you through. There are very few store-bought condiments that are Whole30-compliant. And that’s where this Homemade Smoky Whole 30 Ketchup recipe comes in!
This ketchup contains no sugar, no grains, no alcohol, no beans or legumes, no carageenan, no dairy. It does contain date syrup, which is nothing more than dates stewed in water and then blended.
What this homemade ketchup recipe does have is some spiciness and a ton of flavor. Your Whole 30 will thank you, and you may just decide you like making your homemade ketchup and customizing it however you want!
If you’re not on Whole 30, you may enjoy my tangy, delicious cranberry ketchup recipe.
For ease of browsing, here are all of my condiments and jams. Thanks for stopping by!
The Beloved and I did a Whole30 one year. There’s so much cooking.
So much cooking! Whenever I could find a prepared product that was “compliant,” I bought it to cut down even just a bit on The Cooking.
If you are currently doing a Whole 30 (and God bless you) or you’re thinking about doing it, my friend Wendy has a whole post with links for one month of Whole 30 recipes, making it super easy to cook.
Now that we’re not on Whole 30 but are trying to still eat “Whole 30-ish during the week,” I have time to tinker with some Whole 30 condiments to have on hand.
This smoky Whole30 ketchup is rich and thick, and spicy, and it sweetened with dates.
What Makes It Whole30 Compliant?
Whole30 gives your body a 30-day break from 5 groups of foods:
- Sugar and sugar substitutes
- Alcohol
- Grains
- Beans and Legumes
- Dairy
Whole30 ketchup generally uses dates for sweetness and contains none of the other Whole 30 Big Bads.
Why This Recipe
Well, because it’s delicious.
It’s tangy with apple cider vinegar and smoky with chipotle.
It’s rich and thick but doesn’t have that “chunky” texture some Whole 30-compliant ketchup recipes can have.
I also give you ways to make variations, so if you want bacon ketchup or even a Whole 30-compliant cocktail sauce, this is the recipe for you.
What Can I Put My Homemade Ketchup On?
Use your lovely smoky ketchup the way you would use any ketchup. I rather like mine on scrambled eggs personally. Here are some other Whole30 recipes you’ll want to make and then slather in ketchup!
- Easy Whole30 and Paleo Meatloaf
- Baked Paleo Chicken Tenders
- Whole30 Oven Roasted and Toasted Potato Wedges
How to Make This Recipe
Ketchup is seriously easy to make. There are a few ingredients you’ll need to gather for this version, and then you’re good to go.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need.
- onion: onion is what you need to start building up your flavors. Use sweet or yellow here
- avocado oil: a really good oil for Whole 30. If you’re not being super strict, feel free to sub vegetable oil or olive oil
- tomato puree: make sure your puree has no added sugar. You can also sub crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, or even whole canned tomatoes since you’ll be blending it all up anyway
- salt: helps to bring out all the flavors
- apple cider vinegar: provides tang which helps to wake up the flavors of almost anything you put this ketchup on
- date syrup: provides just a hint of sweetness without having to use any refined sugar
- chipotle in adobo: These come in cans in the grocery store. You’ll be mincing up some of the dried smoked jalapenos (which is what chipotles are) as well as using a little of the sauce they’re packed in
- garlic powder: You can also substitute granulated garlic or even minced garlic
- smoked paprika: provides smokiness and heat. If you prefer to keep you ketchup on the less smoky side, substitute mild chili powder. If you want it hotter, use extra smoked paprika, or add a touch of cayenne in addition to the smoked paprika
- ground cinnamon: most ketchup contains a bit of cinnamon, and I love the warmth it brings to this recipe. Use more or less than called for according to your taste
- ground clove: Not strictly necessary, but adds an almost cooling quality. Substitute ground allspice here, or you could even get away with using just a dash of pumpkin spice blend
Procedure
As I said, this stuff is seriously easy to make.
Here’s the rundown:
- saute onion in the avocado oil along with the salt
- put the sauteed onions in the jar of your blender
- add all the rest of the ingredients to your blender and puree
- return all to the pot and simmer for about 40 minutes until thickened
- cool and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks
Conversely, you can add all your ingredients straight to the pan, puree with your immersion blender, and simmer until thickened to your liking
Q & A
Yes! Especially if you are in the thick of Whole 30 and the thought of making one more thing from scratch makes you want to cry. A good option is Tessemae’s Organic Ketchup. It doesn’t have the same kind of tang as “regular,” but it is very tasty, and you’ll be glad you have some on hand!
Not necessarily. Since paleo folks can have honey, you’ll want to check the label and make sure your brand doesn’t have honey or other sugar, otherwise it’s a no-no for Whole30.
At 4 grams of net carb per serving (5 grams carb, 1 gram fiber and 3 grams sugar), this whole 30-compliant ketchup won’t break your ketogenic diet when used in moderation. But you have to do what is right for your way of eating. There are probably lower carb options out there for you.
Use this spicy ketchup within 3 weeks. It’ll be fine in the fridge for that long. It has a longer “refrigerator life” because a lot of the liquid boils off during cooking.
If you have any questions about this or any other recipe or post on the site, there are a few ways to get in touch.
You can leave a comment on the post, and I’ll be back in touch within 24 hours.
If your question is more pressing, don’t hesitate to email me, and I should be back in touch within 4 hours (unless I’m asleep) or often much more quickly than that.
Once you’re off Whole 30, you might decide to reintroduce sweeteners. In that case, feel free to sub in honey for the date syrup or chopped dates in this recipe. Or you could try my super good Cranberry Ketchup recipe.
I hope you’ve learned something from this post or that you’ve decided to make the recipe.
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Smoky Whole 30 Ketchup
This Whole 30-compliant ketchup packs a good amount of heat and smoke, making it great alone or as a base for barbecue sauce. Good stuff!
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- 3/4 cup sweet onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups tomato puree or sauce
- 6 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4-1/3 cup date syrup , or 1/3 cup chopped, pitted dates plus 1/4 cup water
- 1 chipotle in adobo, diced
- 2 teaspoons adobo sauce, from the can of chipotles
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, or allspice
Instructions
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and then the diced onion and salt.
- Saute for 5 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the onions to your blender jar. Add the rest of the ingredients to the blender and puree until smooth.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to maintain a simmer and simmer for about 40 minutes, stirring fairly frequently to prevent sticking.
- Transfer to a container. Cool and then store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
Whole 30 Ketchup Variations
Classic Whole 30 Ketchup
Leave out the chipotle and adobo, and decrease the smoked paprika to 1/2 teaspoon. Add 1/2 teaspoon celery seed. Proceed as directed.
Whole 30 Cocktail Sauce
Leave out the chipotle and adobo, and decrease the smoked paprika to 1/2 teaspoon. Substitute freshly squeezed lemon juice for the vinegar. Add 1/2 teaspoon celery seed and Whole30-compliant prepared horseradish, to taste (3-4 teaspoons or so). Proceed as directed.
Whole 30 Bacon Ketchup
Finely dice 3 slices of Whole 30 compliant bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon to drain on a paper towel. Pour off excess bacon drippings, leaving about 2 Tablespoons in the pan. Cook the onions in the bacon drippings. Reduce the amount of chipotle and smoked paprika to taste. Proceed as directed and stir the bacon bits back in at the end of cooking.
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Nutrition Information
Yield about 16 Serving Size 2 TablespoonsAmount Per Serving Calories 41Total Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 221mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 0.7g
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And there you have it, friends. Now, if you’re on Whole 30, you can still enjoy some delicious smoky ketchup!
Thanks for spending some time with me today. Have a lovely day.
amanda Cushman says
beautiful recipe Jenni, I had stopped eating ketchup as I knew how much sugar it contained, but your recipe saves the day!
Jennifer Field says
Oh, I’m so glad Amanda! Can’t wait to see your spin!
Amy Malik says
We have a truckload of Roma & Sauce tomatoes coming on the vines so I think this will be s ketchup year. I’m going to try this. Couldn’t you can or preserve this? I’m sure it has enough acid with the tomatoes & vinegar. Thanks for breaking this down into a manageable portion too!
Jennifer Field says
Hey Amy! I would think you could pressure can it, but I’m not a canner so I don’t know. Maybe check the ratios of acid to sugar on a tried and true canning ketchup recipe. You may have to tweak this o e a little.
Kathy says
It’s so much fun to make your own ketchup and this recipe is awesome!
Jennifer Field says
I want to turn all the things into ketchup! And thanks–the smokiness is a really nice bonus!