Sauce and ketchup are both made from cooked, pureed and strained tomatoes. Both also add flavor, moisture and appeal to dishes. In this regard, many people find the two very much confusing. In a nutshell, a sauce is a liquid or semi-liquid served with food to add moisture and flavor whereas ketchup is mostly used in modern times to refer to a sauce made of tomatoes.
Tomato sauce is ostensibly just pureed tomatoes and potentially some water and preservatives. Ketchup is a sauce that also contains corn syrup and seasonings and other ingredients to give it a thick, smooth texture.
What Is Tomato Sauce?
Tomato sauce refer to many different sauces made primarily from tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish, rather than as a condiment. Sauce adds flavor, moisture as well as visual appeal to food.
What You Need To Know About Tomato Sauce
- Tomato sauce is made from tomatoes, oil, meat or vegetable stock and spices.
- Tomato sauce is not made with corn syrup and vinegar.
- Tomato sauce generally does not contain sugar.
- It can be used as an ingredient in many dishes besides pasta sauce.
- Tomato sauce tends to only be sweet or hot and sweeter when compared to ketchup.
- It has thinner, smooth texture. Though sauces can be of various viscosities which depend on the usage of the sauce.
- Tomato sauce is typically bright red in color.
- It is relatively cheaper when compared to ketchup.
- All varieties of sauces are served hot.
- Not all sauces are ketchup.
What Is Tomato Ketchup?
Tomato ketchup is a condiment seasoned more highly with salt, vinegar, sugar/corn syrup and more spices such as chilies. It is used to accent foods at the table (sometimes as an ingredient in other sauces or condiments).
What You Need To Know About Ketchup
- Ketchup is made with diced tomatoes, sugar, vinegar/acetic acid and spices.
- Ketchup is made with vinegar and corn syrup or cane sugar.
- Ketchup has a specific amount of sugar and other sweet spices.
- It is used to accent foods at the table such as burger or chips (sometimes as an ingredient in other sauces or condiments).
- Ketchup has a sweet and tangy taste.
- It has a thick, smooth texture.
- Ketchup is typically deep red in color.
- It is relatively costly when compared to ketchup.
- Ketchup is cold in nature and is never served hot.
- Ketchup is a type of sauce.
Difference Between Tomato Sauce And Ketchup In Tabular Form
| BASIS OF COMPARISON | TOMATO SAUCE | TOMATO KETCHUP |
| Ingredients | Tomato sauce is made from tomatoes, oil, meat or vegetable stock and spices. | Ketchup is made with diced tomatoes, sugar, vinegar/acetic acid and spices. |
| Corn Syrup And Vinegar | Tomato sauce is not made with corn syrup and vinegar. | Ketchup is made with vinegar and corn syrup or cane sugar. |
| Sugar | Tomato sauce generally does not contain sugar. | Ketchup has a specific amount of sugar and other sweet spices. |
| Use | It can be used as an ingredient in many dishes besides pasta sauce. | It is used to accent foods at the table such as burger or chips (sometimes as an ingredient in other sauces or condiments). |
| Taste | Tomato sauce tends to only be sweet or hot and sweeter when compared to ketchup. | Ketchup has a sweet and tangy taste. |
| Consistency | It has thinner, smooth texture. Though sauces can be of various viscosities which depend on the usage of the sauce. | It has a thick, smooth texture. |
| Color | Tomato sauce is typically bright red in color. | Ketchup is typically deep red in color. |
| Cost | It is relatively cheaper when compared to ketchup. | It is relatively costly when compared to ketchup. |
| Served | All varieties of sauces are served hot. | Ketchup is cold in nature and is never served hot. |
| Nature | Not all sauces are ketchup. | Ketchup is a type of sauce. |
Preparation Of Sauce And Ketchup
How To Prepare Ketchup
Ingredients
- 2lb (800gr) plum canned tomatoes, pureed
- 1 onion, medium and finely chopped
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 oz (80gr) brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 fl oz (120ml) white vinegar or cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp black pepper powder
- Grated nutmeg and chilli flakes to taste
Procedure
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add chopped onion and sautée until translucent.
- Pour in the pureed tomatoes.
- Add brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, cinnamon, black pepper, and salt to taste and mix well.
- Cook for about 40 minutes on very low heat, often stirring until the sauce thickens.
- Once it is ready, you can add nutmeg and spicy red pepper flakes according to your taste, to give your sauce a little bit of heat.
- Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender depending on availability.
- Pour your tomato ketchup into sterilized bottles, then seal tightly and place in the fridge until needed.
How To Prepare Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- Tomatoes (about 5 to 6 lbs. for every quart of sauce that you want to make)
- Chopped onions (one medium onion per quart of sauce)
- Minced garlic (one to one-and-a-half cloves per quart)
- Olive oil Basil (1/2 tsp. per quart)
- Oregano (1/2 tsp. per quart)
- Salt
- Pepper
Procedure
- Boil the tomatoes: Start by plunging them into boiling water for one to two minutes. It will loosen their skins, so they become easier to remove in the next step.
- Peel the tomatoes: Remove the skins from the tomatoes and then slice them in half and scoop out the seeds.
- Salute the onion and garlic: Add small amount of olive oil to the bottom of the large pot. Salute the onions and garlic until they are soft.
- Add the tomatoes and all of the remaining ingredients to your onion-garlic mixture and boil.
- Pour your finished sauce into jars.