The ketchup lovers might find it very difficult to enjoy a meal without this classic condiment. People all over the world use ketchup regularly, without knowing how unhealthy it is! Ketchups have a high sugar content, and are overloaded with minerals, like sodium. Taking ketchups regularly can have a negative impact on your oral, and digestive health. The extra calories present in ketchups can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
Here, we will be discussing in detail about the 7 healthy alternative to ketchup. These ketchup alternatives will enable you to enjoy your meal without compromising on taste and delicacy. At the same time, these options are very healthy, and will not cause any undesirable effects in your body.
Content Summary
7 healthy alternative to ketchup
A significant problem associated with ketchups is that they are loaded with different chemicals, like preservatives, stabilizers, flavoring agents, and added colors. These chemicals can produce a number of health issues, such as heart ailments, high blood pressure, acid reflux, heartburn, allergies, and more. So, it’s time to switch to a healthy and safe condiment, that is devoid of these chemical substances. Here are some of the healthy and delicious ketchup alternatives that you can give a try.
1. Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
Sun dried tomato hummus is an excellent ketchup alternative that is made using natural ingredients. Though it is a very healthy condiment with a herby flavor, it is not recommended in the case of individuals who are following a low-carb diet.
Sun dried tomato hummus comes with a thicker consistency when compared to the regular tomato ketchup. It can be used as a perfect dip for different kinds of food items, such as tortilla chips, fresh vegetables, and more. You can also use this condiment while making your favorite chicken burger, sandwich, or wrap.
2. Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce is a healthy alternative to ketchup which comes with a thinner consistency and less sweetness. So, if you want to increase the sweetness of the sauce, consider adding some honey, or maple syrup. You can also use the sauce as it is without incorporating the extra sugar and calories.
The thin consistency of tomato sauce results from its high water content. You can also have a thicker consistency by reducing it over low heat. Tomato sauce will taste very much similar to the store bought ketchups, and you can use it along with a wide variety of dishes, such as french fries, wraps, and more.
3. Tomato Jam
Tomato jam can also be used in the place of ketchups in dishes, such as wraps, burgers, sandwiches, and more. You can also use tomato jam as a dip. However, note that the consistency of tomato jam is a bit thicker than ketchup. So, if you want to bring its consistency down, then use a blender.
Tomato jam will offer you a sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor, and will act as a perfect condiment for most dishes. Apart from tomatoes, this jam also contains other healthy ingredients, such as chili peppers, and ginger which enriches its overall taste.
4. Tomato chutney
Tomato chutneys pair well with a number of snacks, such as samosas, french fries, cutlets, and more. This is a very traditional recipe that incorporates a number of ingredients, like mustard seeds, curry leaves, ginger, garlic, and chillies. This tangy and spicy chutney will surely satisfy your taste buds, and is a healthy alternative to ketchup.
If you want, you can add a bit of sugar to this chutney to enhance its flavor. The consistency of the tomato chutney can be adjusted as per your requirement. Keep it thick if you are going to use it as a dip or spread.
5. Tomato Salsa
The tomato salsa is a very popular dip from Mexico that is quite healthy and delicious. You can easily prepare this dip at your home by using tomato, and other vegetables, like bell pepper, chillies, spring onion, and garlic.
You can use this dip with your tortilla chips, french fries, wraps, paranthas, and other go to breakfast options. The tomato salsa gives you a characteristic flavor and taste because of the presence of different vegetables. This feature also makes this condiment highly nutritious.
6.Tomato Puree
You can use tomato puree in your recipes instead of ketchups. It can be added to sauces, soups, curries, and more. The tomato puree comes with a thick and smooth consistency which will give you the perfect gravies. Here, the tomatoes are lightly cooked before blending them into a puree.
Tomato puree is not as tangy as ketchups. So, if you are substituting ketchups with tomato puree in your recipes, consider adding some sugar to balance out the flavors. For every cup of tomato puree, add 2 teaspoons of sugar.
7. Tomato Paste
Tomato paste has a richer taste and thicker consistency than tomato puree. In this case, the preparation time is very long. At first the tomatoes are cooked for 20-30 minutes in a pot containing boiling water. Then, the tomatoes are taken out and allowed to cool down. Following that, the seeds and skins are removed, and the pulp is transferred to the same pot. It is then cooked again for another 3-4 hours.
This helps in reducing the concentrate into a thicker paste which has the rich flavor of tomato. You can use tomato paste in a wide variety of dishes, like soups, stews, pasta, braised meat, more.
FAQs
Q1. What are the main ingredients of tomato ketchup?
Tomato ketchup is prepared using tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, seasonings, spices, preservatives, stabilizers, flavoring and coloring agents.
Q2. Is tomato ketchup good for our health?
Tomato ketchup contains high sugar and sodium content, preservatives, and many other chemicals that can be very bad for our health.
Q3 What are the best tomato ketchup alternatives?
Some of the best tomato ketchup alternatives include tomato sauce, tomato jam, sun dried tomato hummus, and tomato chutney.
Q4. Can tomato ketchup make you gain weight?
Consuming excess quantities of tomato ketchup can lead to weight gain. This is because ketchup contains a lot of unhealthy calories and high sugar content.
Q5. What are the best ketchup alternatives when it comes to gravies and curries?
You can use tomato puree, or tomato paste instead of ketchup in your gravies and curries.
Conclusion
Here, we have listed the 7 healthy alternative to ketchup that you can use as a dip, or spread with different food items. You can also use the ketchup alternatives, such as tomato puree and paste while making curries, soups, and stews. These condiments can be prepared very easily at your home without using any kind of chemical ingredients. So, switch to these healthier and tastier versions instead of using the store bought ketchups!
