Low-Carb Living ~ No-Sugar Ketchup & Variations

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Ketchup -- well the truth of the matter is IT IS FULL OF SUGAR. I have for the most part opted to live without ketchup since my Low Carb journey began and for the most part, I didn't think I missed it. Well, now that #1 son is camping out in my basement and has decided he wants to try the low carb *thing* (he is doing very well at it), he whined asked for ketchup for his eggs (YUCK, lol). I knew Dana Carpender had a recipe in 500 Low-Carb Recipes so I figured I'd give that a whirl.

In Dana's recipe, you assemble the entire thing in the blender. I've made ketchup before and always cooked it. I decided that would be what I did in this recipe too. I sauteed  the onions in the tiniest bit of olive oil and then added the rest of the ingredients and heated until it boiled (put a lid on it as it will splat and get you). Then I used my immersion blender to the ketchup-ie consistency. Boy that stuff smelled GOOD when cooking. Made me want hot dogs - so we grilled some and I can honestly say I HAVE MISSED KETCHUP -- not any more. This recipe is terrific and I will make sure to keep it on hand. Since making this recipe, I have also used this as the base for Dana's Cocktail Sauce for shrimp, Dana's Steak Sauce, 1000 Island Dressing/Sauce for burgers and am now playing with making a BBQ sauce using it as the base -- don't quite have that one right yet but will keep you posted.

Dana's No-Sugar Ketchup

500 Low-Carb Recipes
(Printable Version)

2 - 6 ounce cans tomato paste
1-1/3 cup cider vinegar
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup Splenda
4 tablespoons minced onion
4 cloves garlic
2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon guar or xanthan*

Just throw everything in your blender and run, scraping down the sides from time to time, until the onion and garlic disappear. Store in a snap-top container in the fridge, and use just like any ketchup.

* this item is not essential but makes your ketchup a little thicker and helps keep the water from separating out if don’t use it quickly. I was able to find packets of xanthan by Hodgson Mills at my local Wal-Mart store.

Makes 3 cups, or 24 servings of two tablespoons, each with: 18 Calories; trace Fat ; 1g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber

Low-Carb Steak Sauce
500 Low-Carb Recipes
(Printable Version)

1/4 cup Dana's No-Sugar Ketchup (see above)
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine well and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Yield: 5 servings of 1 Tbsp, each with 2.25g of carbohydrates, a trace of fiber and a trace of protein

Cocktail Sauce
500 Low-Carb Recipes
(Printable Version)

1/4 cup Dana's No-Sugar Ketchup (see above)
1 tsp prepared horseradish
2 or 3 drops Tabasco
1/2 tsp lemon juice

Just stir together and DIP!

Yield: 1/4 cup, with 10 grams of carbohydrate, a trace of fiber and a trace of protein in the whole batch.

Posting to Michael's Foodie Friday, Honey's Potpourri Friday and Sall's Farm Fresh Friday!