Walnut Ketchup Recipe How to Make Walnut Ketchup | Hank Shaw (2024)

Home | British | Classic Walnut Ketchup

4.84 from 6 votes

By Hank Shaw

June 15, 2015 | Updated June 06, 2022

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Walnut Ketchup Recipe How to Make Walnut Ketchup | Hank Shaw (2)

Squirrels love walnuts. So to be a walnut tree, you either need to be fortunate enough to grow where there are no squirrels, or be strong enough to push out lots and lots and lots of walnuts, so the squirrels and jays and yes, people, can have their share. In fact, these virile trees push out so many little nuts that they factor in loss — to not strip some off in springtime stunts those that remain.

That’s where we come in. There are several things you can do with unripe walnuts. My favorite is pickled walnuts. The French and Italians make a liqueur from unripe walnuts, too. And the English make a wonderful sauce from them called walnut ketchup.

This unusual condiment seems to have originated in 1700s Britain, and the word ketchup is either from Chinese or Southeast Asian origin. Back then there were lots of ketchups, and only later did tomato win the tournament as the One True Ketchup. One of the old ketchups was this walnut ketchup.

Walnut Ketchup Recipe How to Make Walnut Ketchup | Hank Shaw (3)

My recipe is an amalgam of one from 1808 and one from Gourmet magazine from 1948. Basically you mash unripe walnuts, let them steep in vinegar for a week or more, then boil everything with wine, spicy things, anchovies and onion, strain and bottle. Anchovies? Yeah, sounds gnarly. But it isn’t. The sauce isn’t fishy at all, and the anchovies add a savory note to the sauce.

What, then, does walnut ketchup taste like? It’s very sharp, as you might guess from all that vinegar, but beyond the acidity, it tastes like a combination of Worcestershire and A1 Steak sauce. I am not kidding. It really is a dead ringer for A1, but is thin like Worcestershire.

Walnut Ketchup Recipe How to Make Walnut Ketchup | Hank Shaw (4)

Nowadays there’s no reason not to use this sauce right away. But back in the day, cooks would put up this sauce and store it for at least a year before serving. It needs time to mellow, like wine. Take this note, from Maria Eliza Ketelby Rundell, in her book A New System of Domestic Cooking (1808): “It will keep 20 years in the greatest perfection, but it is not fit for use the first year.”

My advice: Go ahead and use some when you make it. But I can tell you that it really does mellow well after a year. I can’t speak for 20.

4.84 from 6 votes

Walnut Ketchup

I used unripe black walnuts for this recipe, but any unripe walnut will do. Ideally they are young enough to jam a knife all the way through, but you can even use slightly older nuts where the inner shell of the nut itself is starting to form. Keep in mind this is not as thick as tomato ketchup. It's more like a Worcestershire sauce, but it tastes more like A1. Use this as a marinade or splash it on any sort of red meat -- beef, venison, duck, goose, hare, etc.

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Course: Condiment, Sauce

Cuisine: British

Servings: 6 cups

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • About 50 green walnuts
  • 3 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 12- ounce bottle malt vinegar
  • 3 to 4 cups cider vinegar
  • 2 ounces of anchovies, rinsed well
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 cup red wine or Port
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 cup chopped or grated horseradish
  • A 1-inch piece of ginger, unpeeled and sliced thin
  • 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional)

Instructions

  • Crush, chop, crack or grind your walnuts. Remember this is a messy job and the liquid will stain, so your method should reflect that. I wear gloves and a ratty long-sleeved shirt and chopmy walnuts small with a stainless steel knife on a dark-stained cutting board, This minimizes the staining.

  • Put the walnuts in a large glass or other non-reactive container and cover with the two vinegars. I find it makes a better walnut ketchup with only malt vinegar, but as this can get expensive, you can make do with some malt vinegar balanced with some cider vinegar. Just barely cover the walnuts with the vinegar. Put the lid on the container and let this sit at room temperature for 8 days.

  • After 8 days, move the walnuts and vinegar into a large, non-reactive pot and add the remaining ingredients. Boil gently for 45 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve to separate the solids. As an extra step, you can wait until the sauce cools and then buzz the sauce in a blender with the xanthan gum; this will keep the very fine solids suspended in the ketchup and give you a sauce with more body.

  • Bottle the sauce and keep it in a cool, dark place indefinitely.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
British, Featured, Foraging, Recipe

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Walnut Ketchup Recipe How to Make Walnut Ketchup | Hank Shaw (2024)

FAQs

How long does homemade ketchup last? ›

Pack and Store Your Homemade Ketchup

Ketchup will keep 3 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer. Ketchup can also be water bath canned using the hot pack method.

How can I thicken my homemade ketchup? ›

But if you want a thicker texture, whisk two tablespoons of cornstarch into 1/4 cup of cold water.

Is ketchup clean eating? ›

Two ingredients of concern in ketchup are salt and sugar. Per tablespoon, ketchup contains 4 grams of sugar and 190 milligrams of sodium. Although 4 grams of sugar doesn't seem like a lot, much of it comes from added sugar, as opposed to the natural sugar found in tomatoes.

Can I eat a ketchup expired 2 years ago? ›

In summary, expired ketchup can often be consumed safely if it has been stored correctly and passes a sensory check for spoilage. However, the quality of the product may not be at its peak.

Does homemade ketchup taste better? ›

Delicious – This easy ketchup recipe tastes fresh and better than anything that you can buy at the grocery store! It has no artificial ingredients or corn syrup, so it's healthier too!

What does it mean if ketchup is watery? ›

You may see a layer of water appear when ketchup is left alone for long periods. Excess water can eventually separate out of this molecular matrix on its own; this is known as leaching [1]. What you need to do is to shake to hom*ogenize it – to redistribute the molecules of the ketchup.

How to get homemade ketchup smooth? ›

Cook on High, uncovered, until mixture is reduced by half and very thick, 10 to 12 hours. Stir every hour or so. Use an immersion blender for about 20 seconds to smooth the texture of the ketchup. Ladle ketchup into a fine strainer and press mixture with the back of a ladle to strain out any skins and seeds.

How do you make ketchup more watery? ›

Equally, if it gets too thick when cooking, add a bit of extra water. Pour into sterilised glass bottles or jars and store in a cool place. Refrigerate once opened.

Why should ketchup not be refrigerated? ›

In addition, Sargent adds, to the preservative natures of the vinegar, salt, and sweeteners, “the acidity of the tomatoes prevent it from requiring refrigeration, but the flavor and texture will be better maintained if kept under refrigerated conditions.”

When should you throw out ketchup? ›

After opening condiments, you can refrigerate them for the following times: ketchup, co*cktail or chili sauce 6 months. chutney, 1 to 2 months. horseradish, 3 to 4 months.

Does ketchup go bad in the pantry? ›

Yes, ketchup can go bad. If unopened, commercial ketchup “can last for up to a year in your pantry,” says Okegbe, but once opened and refrigerated, it should ideally be consumed within six months. If left in the pantry once opened, use up the ketchup within a month to be safe.

Is ketchup good for dogs? ›

Ketchup is typically a mix of tomato paste, seasonings, and syrup. It contains sugar and sweeteners like fructose, corn syrup, and xylitol. These ingredients are very harmful to your dog and could cause long-term health issues. They can spike your dog's blood sugar levels and cause an upset stomach.

What's healthier, mayo or ketchup? ›

Although its egg base lays solid muscle-building groundwork, mayo's calories count eventually against it. In contrast, ketchup contains a serving of micronutrients you'll relish, earning its place as the king of condiments.

Is mustard healthier than ketchup? ›

Mustard is the clear winner here, known to bring relief for a myriad of ailments including joint pain, skin problems and even poor respiratory health. It also clocks in at just 5 calories per serving (give or take), while ketchup, containing sugar and roughly 20 calories per serving, boasts very few health benefits.

How to extend the shelf life of homemade ketchup? ›

However, it's important to always check the expiration date on the bottle and to discard it if there are any signs of spoilage such as mold, off odor, or strange color. Additionally, it's recommended to store ketchup in the refrigerator at all times to extend its shelf life and maintain its quality.

How to tell if ketchup is bad? ›

It's clear that ketchup has spoiled if you notice one or more of the following changes outlined by Okegbe: a moldy surface or container, a “sour, yeasty” smell and taste, and/or a bloated container, which is a sign that the ketchup has fermented and shouldn't be consumed.

How long does natural ketchup last? ›

Unopened ketchup will last for about a year in the pantry. Opened bottles of ketchup, however, have a much shorter shelf life: About six months if stored in the fridge and a month or so if stored in the cupboard.

Does homemade ketchup need to be refrigerated? ›

Once your ketchup is home with you, and open, popping it in the fridge is the best way to “preserve the flavor and texture along with promoting shelf life of the product,” Sargent advises.

References

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