Ketchup is healthy!!!

[lcsamano]

I am not to big of a ketchup fan. I rarely use ketchup for fries. I would rather have honey mustard dressing with some dashes of tabasco in it. I like mustard only on sandwiches. I do not eat mayo it makes me sick.

I never knew that ketchup was good for you though. I will have to keep that from my children.

[GregGraves]

Ketchup Healthy? Should this be 'Tomatoes Healthy'?

Ketchup is loaded with salt. Take a look at the label and that's per serving, which is 1 tbsp or so.

I was trying to make a homemade barbecue sauce recipe the other day that wasn't loaded with salt, and all I could find were ones based on ketchup, so I tossed in the towel and used a bottle of store bought bbq sauce I had. I try to avoid salt because it's in so many foods we eat and think I get enough of it from that. And so if I can avoid salt I do, but in the case of the bbq sauces, it looks like I need to buy a salt free ketchup or tomato paste to use as a base for my homemade recipes.

[medako]

the salt and sugar levels in ketchup would probably surprise most people. It's really not that good for you. It's the tomato that is the healthy part. Tomatoes are what carry lycopene (sp?)

[ExCal]

Ketchup still shouldn't be overdone, as it doesn't really have any nutrients for your body. And can be fattening as well, but it shows everything has at least one good point on it.

[Mama Mangia]

Ketchup Healthy? Should this be 'Tomatoes Healthy'?

Ketchup is loaded with salt. Take a look at the label and that's per serving, which is 1 tbsp or so.

I was trying to make a homemade barbecue sauce recipe the other day that wasn't loaded with salt, and all I could find were ones based on ketchup, so I tossed in the towel and used a bottle of store bought bbq sauce I had. I try to avoid salt because it's in so many foods we eat and think I get enough of it from that. And so if I can avoid salt I do, but in the case of the bbq sauces, it looks like I need to buy a salt free ketchup or tomato paste to use as a base for my homemade recipes.

I happen to like ketchup - and for the amount that I actually use - I am not concerned about the salt, etc. And of course I don't eat it everyday.

Greg - here's something you may want to try:

ALABAMA WHITE BARBECUE SAUCE

1 cup mayonnaise
10 tablespoons white vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons prepared horseradish optional
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
1 teaspoon salt


Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Serve with barbecued chicken or as a dip for grilled vegetables.


another variation:

This is a finishing sauce and should be applied at the last
moments of cooking or it will break down. Great for dipping also.


1 C. mayonnaise
1 C. cider vinegar
1 T. lemon juice
1 1/2 T. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne

Mix ingredients together and refrigerate.



ALL PURPOSE BARBECUE SAUCE


1/4 c Salad oil
2 tb lsp Soy sauce
1/4 c Bourbon, sherry, or wine
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 Pepper, freshly ground

Combine all ingredients and pour over meat. Marinate in refrigerator.
Also use to baste meat as you cook it. Good on red meat, fish or
chicken.



Barbecue Sauce

1 onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 clove garlic
1 cup water
1 Tbsp salt
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
10-12 drops hot pepper sauce
1/3 cup lemon juice

Sauté onion in butter in skillet, until transparent but not brown. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer on low heat 1 - 1-1/2 hours. Makes about 1-1/2 pints. Maybe refrigerated up to 3 weeks. Great for chicken, pork chops, ribs.



BBQ SAUCE

1 16 oz can of no-salt tomato sauce
1 4 oz can of sliced mushrooms (or a double handful of fresh)
2 tblsp honey
generous amount of chopped garlic
1 tsp chili powder
1 tblsp basil
1 tblsp oregano
at least a teaspoon of any other spice you like except black pepper
(it clashes with the chili powder)

Mix well and add to meat before you cook it. It also works really well
for baked chicken.


I have tons more if you are interested.

[GregGraves]

Thanks for the recipes Mama,

I like ketchup and use it all of the time. All I was trying to say was that ketchup was a primary ingredient in many of the homemade BBQ sauce recipes & using a 1/2 cup or more of ketchup adds a lot of salt to the recipe.

[Mama Mangia]

I agree with you Greg - and I even have recipes that call for 28 - 32 oz. of ketchup! Now that is salt! And I have some that call for 1/4 c. Salt is in so much that it seems like you just can't get away from sodium these days!

[GregGraves]

Hi Everyone!
I looked at the label of the (name withheld) ketchup brand I use and it has 280mg of sodium per tbsp. So 1/2 cup would have 280* 6 = 1680mg. That's a lot of salt to put in BBS sauce or so it seems to me. I like cooking without salt and using seasonings, and herbs instead.

[Mama Mangia]

I use Hunt's - 180 per tablespoon. I wish I had a bottle of BBQ sauce in the house - I rarely by it because I make my own - but I am really interested in the sodium count on that! I agree with you - spices and herbs are much better than all that salt!

[Mama Mangia]

Forgive for this Greg - but isn't a cup 16 tablespoons - leaving 8 for a half cup. Correct me if I am wrong. But if it is - 280 X 8 = 2240 and that is even worse!