Handwritten recipe for Chili Sauce
by: salvagedrecipes

Homemade Chili Sauce with Tomatoes and Spices

Chili Sauce
This classic Chili Sauce is a traditional homemade condiment that brings together a generous mix of ripe and green tomatoes, peppers, onions, vinegar, sugar, and warm spices to create a tangy-sweet flavor profile. Chili sauce recipes like this became popular in American home kitchens as a way to preserve garden harvests and add brightness to otherwise simple meals. Simmered slowly for hours, it develops depth and body, balancing acidity from vinegar with aromatic notes of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. It’s beloved for its versatility, served alongside meats, spooned over eggs or potatoes, or used as a flavorful base in casseroles and stews. Its rustic texture and robust seasoning make it a nostalgic pantry favorite and a reminder of seasonal home preserving.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 45 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 quarts tomatoes (mix of green and ripe, finely chopped)
  • 3 cups bell peppers (finely chopped)
  • 2 cups onions (finely chopped)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ½ cup salt
  • 1 ½ quarts cider vinegar
  • 3 tsp ground cloves
  • 3 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare the vegetables

  • Chop tomatoes, peppers, and onions very fine.

Step 2: Measure ingredients

  • Measure all vegetables after chopping.

Step 3: Combine ingredients

  • Add chopped vegetables, sugar, salt, vinegar, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg into a large pot.

Step 4: Cook the sauce

  • Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer gently for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Finish and seal

  • Pour hot sauce into clean bottles or jars.
  • Seal tightly.

Tips

  • Use a mix of green and ripe tomatoes for a balanced tart-sweet flavor
  • Add red pepper flakes for a spicier version
  • Reduce sugar for a more tangy sauce
  • Substitute white vinegar for cider vinegar for a sharper taste
  • Add minced garlic for extra savory depth
  • Blend partially for a smoother texture
  • Leave chunkier for rustic style chili sauce
  • Use as glaze for meatloaf or sausages
  • Can in sterilized jars for long-term storage
  • Great as a topping for eggs or roasted potatoes

Nutrition

Calories: 45kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 0.6gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 240mgPotassium: 140mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 650IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 0.7mg
Keyword fall canning, heritage cooking, homemade chili sauce, homemade condiments, old-fashioned preserving, pantry staple, sweet and tangy sauce, tomato-based condiment, vintage recipe
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