This easy damson ketchup recipe is lightly spiced with star anise, cinnamon and cloves for a fruity, sweet and warming flavour. It's especially good in a bacon sandwich, is heavenly with cheese and works with pretty much everything tomato ketchup does!
Damsons are naturally sweet and sour, which make them an excellent candidate for a ketchup. We like to add a little beetroot which lends an earthy flavour, mellowing out the sourness of the damsons. It also acts as a thickener, giving your ketchup a lovely glossy texture.
As the damsons themselves are sour, we haven't added much vinegar, meaning the shelf life isn't as long as other preserves – but it does freeze well if you've made a big batch.
Transfer the contents of the pan (discarding the whole spices and bay leaf, unless you want a very spiced flavour) to a blender and blitz for a few minutes until you're left with a smooth purple ketchup
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