Wednesday, September 16, 2009

And the tomato love continues: canning chili sauce

My most favorite of tomato canning recipes? By far, no questions asked, chili sauce.
spices for spice bag: chili sauce
It ends up making the best meals during the winter, paired with black or kidney beans, ground turkey if you like, and just about any skillet free-for-all, this chile sauce is a great staple in the pantry. Using the best of the harvest at the height of the season, tomatoes + chiles + spices and all things good just make for an awesome combination.

spice bag: chili sauce

Ooh and it uses a spice bag. You gather your spices, and wrap them up in cheese cloth. I use a slice of cheese cloth to tie the bag shut.

And then off they go into a vat of tomatoes to season themselves off.

chili sauce

I use a variation on the classic chili sauce recipe in the Ball Canning Book and I have to tell you, it's a delicious recipe. It provides the perfect amount of sauce and tang to a winter dish.

24 large red ripe tomatoes (I rough chop them)
3 medium onions chopped
4 medium red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
2 jalapenos chiles, seeded and finely chopped
1 cup sugar (we halved this)
3 T salt
3 T mixed pickling spice
1 T celery seed
1 T mustard seed
2.5 cups distilled white vinegar (I used cider vinegar this year)

1. Combine the tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, jalapenos, sugar and salt in a large sauce pan. Cook over a low flame for 40 minutes.
2. Tie the spices in a cheesecloth bag and add to the tomato mixture. Cook until mixture is reduced by one half about 45 minutes. As mixture thickens stir frequently to prevent sticking.
3. Add the vinegar and cook slowly until desired thickness. (we used very juicy tomatoes this year: this took hours.) Remove spice bag.
4. Pour into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 15 minutes in boiling water bath canner.
finished jars of chile sauce

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

You will bring people in off the streets with the aroma of this wonderful sauce. I know because one morning as I was making it there was a knock on the door and it was the milkman asking if that was chili sauce on the stove. He hadn't smelled it since childhood and had tears in his eyes. Hugs, Mom

Syd said...

Oh God yes...Chili Sauce!!!

To your mom: the milkman? For some reason that made me LOL

portlandred said...

you're killing us with these canning labels. as a comparison, I've been scrawling w/sharpie on the lids lately.

IMHO, you should offer a PDF template for download in your online shop. lock the PDF so people can add their own text at the bottom for printing and/or maybe change the color of the background. (or offer multiple background colors.. ) I know I'd buy 'em. :)

Best Wishes, Marie said...

me too, i might even brig the canning pot in out of the tuff shed.

Anonymous said...

Dear Syd,
Did I mention that this happened 30 years ago?
Lelo's mom

Heather said...

Okay Lelo, I swear to God I posted this yesterday, but I guess it didn't go through.

Please canning goddess - do you know a pickling recipe that doesn't require canning - ie pickles that I can eat within a week or two? I have some HUGE cucumbers that are going to rot otherwise because I can only stand so much salad and I'm just not ready to start canning yet (but I promise - next year!)

BeckyMN said...

SO I'm guessing I can use this chili sauce to make a pot of chili? I've canned a TON of tomatoes but this is my first time trying chili sauce. It looks wonderful! I've already got the first 6 ingredients simmering on the stove!

Also, where did you create those beautiful labels?? I'm planning to sell some of my canned goods at our church bazaar and I think a pretty label would be a greats sell point! Got suggestions?

Thanks - a fellow gardener and canner. BeckyMN

Randy said...

I know this is long after you first posted, but...

I read this piece when I was reading your blog after it had been recommended to me and now it's a link to a more recent posting and it brought back my memories...

So, this is where I post my question:

I've vowed to can tomatoes and tomato sauces and maybe even something like this chili during this summer. I've lucked into a bunch of quart jars, so all I need is a place to do it.

I remember reading about a commercial kitchen (not that I need a fancy canner or something, but big spaces to work with big pans) that is available for rent by the hour to people.

Did I read about that here or are you aware of such a place?

Its not just the flavor I'm after -- its the planning and preparation and the "wows" that may come in winter, 2010, when I use them. Who would have thought this old man could so such a thing.

Thanks for all you share --

Randy (a North Portland neighbor)

LeLo said...

Hi Randy!
Thanks for the nice note. I don't believe I wrote about a commercial kitchen. I know there's a canning resource library in North Portland, but a kitchen itself, I'm a little stumped. If I do find one, I'll leave another comment on this post.
Thank you!

JoLo said...

Do you seed and skin the tomatoes or just slice and use?