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. Leave 1/4” headspace and process the 1/2 pint jars for 15 minutes.

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.

Does homemade ketchup taste better? ›

Homemade ketchup is simple and much more flavorful than anything you can buy at the store. I use 4 tablespoons of sugar, but adjust the sugar to your taste.

Can I eat a ketchup expired 2 years ago? ›

While they are best used by the date on the label, this doesn't mean they are bad to eat or drink after that date. According to Good RX, if these products are stored properly — like putting opened bottles of ketchup in the fridge — they can still be safe to consume after the use-by date has come and gone.

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? ›

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. Transfer strained ketchup to a bowl. Cool completely.

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? ›

Because ketchup is a processed food, it should be kept in a cool place so that the ingredients stay fresh for longer. The naturally acidic ingredient is technically shelf-stable—but only up to a point, and only for so long.

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.

What was ketchup used for in the old days? ›

In the 1830s, tomato ketchup was sold as a medicine that could cure ailments like diarrhea, indigestion, and jaundice. The idea was initially proposed by Dr. John Cook Bennett, an American physician, in 1834, who later decided to sell the recipe in the form of 'tomato pills'.

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 is the healthiest ketchup? ›

Primal Kitchen Organic and Unsweetened Ketchup

If you want to give added sugar of all kinds the boot, Primal Kitchen is the ketchup brand for you. Made with tomato concentrate, balsamic vinegar, and spices (and no HFCS, dates, honey, or syrups of any kind), it's a personal favorite of nutritionist Keri Glassman, RD.

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? ›

Ketchup has sugar, vinegar and tomatoes (acidity). If unopened it can last up to two years, if opened, one year in refrigerator. What can I add to my sauce to prolong its shelf life? Vinegar and oil could keep your sauce from going bad, but it also depends on what else is going into ignore.

How long does homemade tomato sauce last in a mason jar? ›

You will need four pint-sized jars with sealable lids for canning; the lids and jars need to be sterilized, which can be done by boiling in a large pot for 10 minutes. Let them dry before filling. Canned tomato sauce will remain good for up to a year, stored in a cool, dark place.

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? ›

If left in the pantry once opened, use up the ketchup within a month to be safe. On the other hand, homemade ketchup only lasts for about a week in the fridge, and should never be stored in the pantry.

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