Zesty Homemade Ketchup Recipe

Step 1

In a soup pot, mix together the vibrant tomatoes, aromatic onion, pungent garlic, sweet apple juice, and a kick of cayenne pepper. Let the mixture come to a lively boil. For added depth of flavor, tie up the fragrant bay leaf, cloves, celery seed, and peppercorns in a spice bag or bundle them in cheesecloth before tossing them into the pot. Keep stirring and allow the concoction to simmer until it reduces by half.

Step 2

After the flavors have melded beautifully, discard the spice bag and infuse a zesty touch with a splash of tangy lemon juice. Let it all bubble away for another 10 minutes before taking it off the heat. Transfer the soup to a sealed container and chill until it's ready to be enjoyed. Remember to savor it within a week or freeze for later indulgence!