Recipe for Chili Sauce, a Southern Tradition

This recipe for chili sauce was given to me by my grandmother. It is a traditional old south condiment that is served with all kinds of meats. If all you are familiar with is the bottled variety, you are in for a big surprise.

The manufactured kind is similar to ketchup with a little extra spice. A good homemade recipe for chili sauce will still have chunks of tomatoes and layers of flavor. It should have a rich, appetizing, burgundy red color from the spices and tomatoes. Besides being delicious it is a beautiful addition to the table.

It is also traditional for a chili sauce recipe to have a kick of spicy heat from peppers but the amount of heat is entirely up to you. The recipe for chili sauce as written is medium spicy. If your family is sensitive to heat cut down or eliminate the cayenne pepper. It is also traditional to use fresh tomatoes but who has time for that now? This recipe for chili sauce was converted to use canned tomatoes years ago. Grandma liked tradition but she was no fool when it came to saving time in the kitchen.

Grandmother's Chili Sauce Recipe

2 regular cans or 1 large can of diced tomatoes

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup chopped onion

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large saucepan. Add the vinegar and tomatoes and mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to cook, uncovered, until it is reduced by half. Cool. This recipe for chili sauce should be covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator. It will keep for several weeks.

Besides using it as a condiment, this chili sauce recipe is great used as a topping on meatloaf. My version of meatloaf using it is posted here on Bukisa. If you like my recipe for chili sauce I hope you will try some of my other recipes.