The Best Low Sodium Ketchup Recipe

When you embark on a low sodium diet, you start to realize that salt is hidden in almost everything. Condiments are often a an easy pitfall for anyone starting out on a low sodium diet. They succeed in pulling the salt shaker off of the table and think that they can declare victory. Sadly that is not the case. It is time to shine a light on the other condiments and spices on the table. I have already covered the best no sodium mustard. Today we will shine the light on Ketchup and I will share the best low sodium ketchup recipe that I have found. This is perfect for your perfect low sodium cheeseburger.

Bottled Low Sodium Ketchup

Ketchup from either one of your favorite “H” name companies are full of sodium as a preservative, and more often than not, corn syrup as a sweetener. Both Hunts and Heinz Ketchup will run you 160 mg of sodium for one tablespoon. While that might not seem like a lot, remember, unless you are eating in straight (I won’t judge, my kids do that!) it all adds up in the dish you are making.

Heinz makes a No Salt Added Ketchup which has only 5 mg of sodium per tablespoon, but they use a salt substitute that contains Potassium Chloride, which many heart, liver, kidney, and high blood pressure patients cannot have as it interferes with many of our medications. Hunts also has a No Salt Added and no preservative Ketchup that is 0 mg per tablespoon. The Hunts is often hard to obtain in stores. If you can find it, I recommend buying a case.

Make Your Own Low Sodium Ketchup

The best advice I will give you today though, is to make your own. It is a lot easier than you think and quick too. The absolute coolest thing about making your own ketchup is that you can make fancy “gourmet” ketchups that are kicked up a few notches, and are great for BBQs, picnics, and any other occasion. My base recipe for the best low sodium ketchup has honey as the sweetener, cider vinegar, cayenne, ginger, paprika, garlic, onion, and liquid smoke to give it a roasted tomato flavor.

Kustom Ketchups

You could try a few variations to mix it up.

Smokey Chipotle Ketchup: Replace the honey and cayenne with maple syrup and chipotle pepper.

Sriracha Ketchup: You can replace the honey, cayenne, and cider vinegar with white vinegar, Thai Chili paste, and molasses. Also add 1 Tablespoon of Lemon Juice.

Jamaican Jerk Ketchup: Replace the cayenne with 1 scotch bonnet pepper seeded and finely minced, add 1 Tablespoon of Pineapple Juice, 1 teaspoon of lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg.

Let me know what combinations you come up with! Now, onto the recipe: