Hot & Spicy Banana Catsup

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Title: Hot & Spicy Banana Catsup
Categories: condiments, sauces
Yield: 7 cups

1 c seedless raisins
1 c onion; chopped
3 lg cloves garlic
1 cn (6 ounces) tomato paste
8 lg bananas, very ripe
4 c up to 6 cups water
1 c brown sugar; firmly packed
1 tb salt
1 ts cayenne pepper
1/2 c light corn syrup
4 ts allspice; ground
1 1/2 ts nutmeg; grated
1 ts black pepper; ground
1/2 ts cloves; ground
1/4 c dark Jamaican rum
2 2/3 c cider vinegar
1 1/2 ts cinnamon; ground

Combine raisins, onion, garlic and tomato past in container of food
processor or electric blender. Whirl until smooth puree, adding a little
vinegar if necessary to help the pureeing. Pour into large heavy or dutch
oven. Peel bananas. Cut into chunks. Puree in food processor or blender,
adding vinegar, if necessary, to help pureeing. Add to mixture in
saucepan. Add
remaining vinegar, 4 cups water, brown sugar, salt and cayenne; stir to
blend. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Lower
heat to medium-low.


Cook, uncovered, stirring often, for 1-1/4 hours. If mixture becomes too
thick and threatens to stick, add enough water to just moisten. After 1-1/4
hours, add corn syrup, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and cloves.
Continue to cook, stirring frequently, 15 minutes. Remove from heat.


To test for thickness: Spoon catsup on chilled saucer. Chill in
refrigerator. A fingertip should leave a track when drawn through catsup.
If catsup has jellied, thin with little extra vinegar and water, equal
amounts of each. Let catsup cool slightly.

Working in batches, puree in food processor or blender. Or, push through
fine-mesh sieve. Return puree to rinsed-out saucepan. Taste for hotness,
adding more cayenne, if you wish. (The flavor will become more pronounced
after catsup has mellowed, so be cautious about adding more.) Meanwhile,
wash half-pint or pint or other canning jars or bottles, and lids and bands
in hot soapy water. Rinse. Leave jars in hot water. Place lids and bands in
saucepan of
simmering water. Return catsup to boiling over medium heat, stirring
constantly. Add rum; stir to combine.


Ladle boiling catsup into hot, clean canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch
headspace. Wip jar rims and threads clean with clean, damp cloth. Cover jars
with hot lids; screw on bands firmly. Process jars in boiling water bath
for 15 minutes (water should cover jars by 1-2 inches). Remove jars from
boiling water to wire racks to cool. Test for seals. Label, date and store
in cool, dark place for up to one year. Catsup is ready to serve after
ripening.


Contributor: Peggy Makalondra (MM format by Roy Olsen)
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