Green Tomato Ketchup Recipe (2024)

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Green Tomato Ketchup Recipe (1)

Last Updated on October 6, 2021 by Anne-Marie

Make this easy green tomato ketchup recipe with fresh tomatoes from your garden.

Green Tomato Ketchup Recipe (2)

Why this recipe works

If you're overwhelmed with tomatoes from your garden, you must make this easy green tomato ketchup recipe.

Don't worry, it’s not as hard as you think, even if you're new to canning.

After all, there’s nothing like enjoying the benefits of your garden year round by canning your tomatoes.

Why make green tomato ketchup

While there’s nothing wrong with making tomato sauce from tomatoes, you should try making this green tomato ketchup even if you've never canned before.

I decided to make green ketchup canning recipe since it was easy to do even though canning was intimidating.

In fact, I was overjoyed at how well my first batch of green ketchup turned out.

Green Tomato Ketchup is very sweet and mild, almost like an apple sauce rather than a red tomato ketchup.

I’ve tried it everything from eggs to fish sticks to sweet potato fries. And it’s delicious!

How to make green tomato ketchup

Food safety first!

It’s very important that you add bottled lemon juice to this Green Tomato Ketchup recipe.

Do not use fresh lemon juice as it is not acidic enough.

Bottled lemon juice will give the green tomato ketchup enough acidity to avoid any issues with Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which is a deadly neurotoxin.

You can read about it on this PDF from the University of Wisconsin.

They recommend 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice per quart. Since my Green Tomato Ketchup recipe makes 2 quarts, I added 4 tablespoons.

Honey vs. agave

Due to my food sensitivities to honey, I used agave nectar to sweeten my Green Tomato Ketchup recipe. Any variety of agave is fine (light, dark, etc.)

However, you can use honey if you like, especially if you don’t feel the need to add something new to your pantry.

Green Tomato Ketchup Recipe (3)

Some tomato canning guides and supplies to help you make green tomato ketchup

If you’re new to canning tomatoes, here are some books to help you get started!

Ball Complete Book of Canning and Preserving. I have this book on canning. It’s perfect for beginners.

Canning and Preserving for Beginners: The Essential Canning Recipes and Canning Supplies Guide is also a terrific guide.

● You can download USDA Publications on home canning at the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Best of all they’re FREE.

Canning equipment needed to make green tomato ketchup

Don’t have any canning equipment?

First, you need a large stock pot

The Granite Ware Steel/Porcelain Water-Bath Canner is a 21.5-quart capacity enamel water bath canner and chrome plated rack

Second, you need a canning kit

There are a variety of canning kits to choose from depending on how serious you want to get with your canning.

I recommend getting at kit with at least the following:

  • a lifter
  • a funnel
  • tongs

The Norpro Canning Essentials Boxed Set has everything you need to get started at a good price.

Then, buy dissolvable labels

I also recommend Ball Dissolvable Labels. I love these labels because they're super easy to get off when you've finished a jar and want to reuse it for something else.

These are terrific for canned green ketchup as well as labeling jars for gifts like homemade keto taco seasoning mix recipeor DIY Coffee Sugar Scrub with Coconut Oil.

Don’t buy a cheaper brand because those won’t come off as easily when you wash them.

Finally, get good jars

Don’t forget to buy a case of 8-ounce Ball Jar Crystal Jelly Jars with Lids and Bands.

If you’re making Green Tomato Ketchup as a homemade gift, the small jelly jars are super adorable and perfect for gift giving.

More canning recipes

If you had fun canning, try these recipes:

You can use Refrigerator Pickled Okra like pickles or in martinis instead of olives.

This Easy Fig Ginger Jam is super on toast or yogurt.

Don’t throw out watermelon rinds! Make Best Watermelon Rind Pickles instead.

Yield: 64 OUNCES

Green Tomato Ketchup Recipe

Green Tomato Ketchup Recipe (4)

Looking for green tomato recipes? Then make this easy green ketchup recipe!

Prep Time2 hours

Cook Time6 hours

Total Time8 hours

Ingredients

  • 6 pounds green tomatoes
  • 3 pounds onions
  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons mixed pickling spices
  • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice (do not use fresh juice as it's not acidic enough)
  • 3/4 to 1 cup agave nectar (any type is fine)

Instructions

  1. Slice green tomatoes and onions. Place in a large pot with pepper, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Put the mixed pickling spices in a small cheesecloth bag and add to the tomato mixture.
  3. Pour cider vinegar over the mixture.
  4. Cook for four to six hours over very low heat, stirring occasionally.
  5. Remove the bag of pickling spices.
  6. Puree the mixture with a wand blender or in a food processor or blender.
  7. Strain the tomato mixture through a mesh strainer.
  8. Return to pot and bring to boil.
  9. Add lemon juice and 3/4 cup of agave and stir until dissolved. Using a clean spoon, take a taste. If you feel the ketchup is sweet enough, stop. If not, add another 1/4 cup of agave nectar. Remember to use a clean spoon every time you taste test.
  10. Immediately fill six sterilized jelly jars with green tomato ketchup, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
  11. Wipe the jar tops and threads clean with a clean paper towel. Place hot sealing lids on the jars and apply the screw on rings loosely.
  12. Process in boiling water bath in a deep canning pot for 5 minutes,adjusting for altitude.
  13. Remove the jars and cool completely. Tighten the jar screw rings to complete the sealing process.
  14. After the jars of green tomato ketchup cool, check seals by pressing the middle of the lid with finger. If the lid springs back, your green tomato ketchup didn’t seal and must be refrigerated.
  15. Let jars of green tomato ketchup stand at room temperature 24 hours. Don’t forget to apply a dated label!
  16. Store unopened product in a cool dry place up to one year. Refrigerate green tomato ketchup after opening.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 8-ounce bottle

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 238Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 7gSugar: 36gProtein: 7g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.

Originally posted October 27, 2011 and August 9, 2016. Updated with new photos and information.

Bottle photo credit: Adobe Stock

Green Tomato Ketchup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do they make green ketchup? ›

Heinz achieved the distinct shade by a process that stripped normal ketchup of its coloring and subbed it instead with green dye—an unfortunate chemical rewiring that prevented this new hue of condiment from being labeled as tomato ketchup.

Why did they stop making green ketchup? ›

So why can't you still buy these today? Regrettably, EZ ketchup sales began to dwindle after their initial boom and the line was discontinued in 2006. According to marketing expert Calvin L. Hodock, “Kids tired of it, being the fickle little devils that they are.

Why do green tomatoes taste different? ›

The difference between an unripe green tomato and a real green tomato is that unripe green tomatoes are pale and green all over, firm, and more acidic or tart in taste. On the other hand, real green tomatoes are heirloom varieties bred to stay green at full maturity.

What was ketchup made of before tomatoes? ›

The first ketchup recipe included neither tomatoes, vinegar, nor many other ingredients that make ketchup well… ketchup. The first base of the sauce was fish, then oysters, mushrooms, and only after that – tomatoes. How did ketchup transform from Asian fish sauce to universally loved tomato dip?

Did green ketchup taste different? ›

The answer is that it's pretty much the same as Heinz's regular ketchup except with added food coloring and vitamin C. While these colorful EZ-Squeeze ketchups were briefly popular, people quickly realized that multi-colored ketchup was gross and now these colorful ketchups are extinct.

Is green ketchup still available? ›

Due to rising awareness of better nutrition and healthier foods, people shied away from the product. Profits dropped and, in 2006, the line was discontinued. If you never got to try Blastin' Green Ketchup, don't despair, unopened bottles appear on eBay from time to time.

Why is Heinz ketchup not ketchup? ›

In America, “Heinz” is practically synonymous with “ketchup.” But that won't be true in Israel—at least, not in Hebrew. The country's Health Ministry says that the company can no longer call its tomato product “ketchup” on Hebrew labels because it does not contain enough tomato paste.

Why avoid Heinz ketchup? ›

It contains high quantities of sugar, salt, fructose, preservatives and corn syrup. All of these ingredients when combined together have an adverse effect on the body.

Why does McDonald's not use Heinz ketchup? ›

However, in 2013 Heinz was acquired by a new company with a new CEO, Bernado Hees. Hees was the former CEO of Burger King, McDonald's fast food rival. Because of Hees' history with Burger King, McDonald's decided to end its 40-year partnership with Heinz and produce its own ketchup instead.

Can you eat raw green tomatoes? ›

Shall we eat green tomatoes raw or cooked? Green tomatoes preferably shall be cooked before eating them. They have a higher content in “Solanina”. This substance is a natural fungicide or pesticide that the tomato plants contain in order to avoid other organism or animals to consume it.

Are tomatillos just green tomatoes? ›

Tomatillos also tend to be juicier and not as firm as green tomatoes, so they are quite different in texture. When a tomatillo is ripe, it remains a small, green fruit, and it grows inside a papery husk called a calyx. On the other hand, a green tomato is the unripe fruit of any variety of tomato plant.

Are fried green tomatoes just unripe tomatoes? ›

The acidic green tomatoes mellow out when cooked and the firm to the point of being crunchy texture softens but doesn't turn to mush. Are fried green tomatoes just unripe tomatoes? Yes, green tomatoes are just regular tomatoes that have not yet matured on the vine.

What is the difference between ketchup and catsup? ›

As it turns out, they're the same thing!

Ketchup and catsup are both Westernized terms for a condiment that has origins in China: fish sauce. Ketchup as we know it today is a modernized version of fish sauce, which was made in port towns on the South China Sea with salted and fermented anchovies.

What is Chinese ketchup? ›

Directions. Whisk together together ketchup, hoisin, honey, soy sauce, sherry, and five spice powder in a small bowl. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store in refrigerator for up to a month.

What is the oldest ketchup brand? ›

In 1876, the world of ketchup changed forever. A first-generation German American named Henry J. Heinz launched his bottled version of ketchup—spelled “catsup”—following his success with bottled grated horseradish, which the company advertised alongside dozens of other products.

How to dye ketchup green? ›

To make the ketchup green add a few drops of green coloring. A few drops at a time until its green enough.

How did they make banana ketchup? ›

Bananas, vinegar, and sugar were combined to create a loose facsimile of its tomato counterpart, then dyed red to fit the "ketchup" label.

What's the difference between ketchup and banana ketchup? ›

What Does Banana Ketchup Taste Like? Think of basic ketchup, then add a sweet tang to it, and you have banana ketchup. Due to the vinegar and spices, this item tastes a lot like the food it was meant to replace, but the tropical fruit aspect gives it a layer of juicy sweetness.

Does ketchup contain artificial colors? ›

For example, Red Dye 40 can be added to ketchup, yogurt, dips, and other foods to give them a more vibrant color. It can also be mixed with other dyes to get a certain color. The ingredients and additives, including Red Dye 40, are usually listed on the packages of the foods and other products that you buy.

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