Move Over Heinz, #NotKetchup is in Town!

Do you have talented friends? I have a bunch!

One of my superstar creative pals has just this week released a new food product to the market, and it is going to give Heinz Ketchup more than a run for its money.

Her product is called Not Ketchup, a gourmet dipping sauce that is…well…most decidedly NOT ketchup! It pours like ketchup, but because it has no tomatoes in it (a FDA requirement for something to be labeled ketchup), it is “not ketchup.” It’s made with ripe fruit instead of tomatoes, sweetened with demerara sugar and honey, and zipped up with apple cider vinegar, onions and spices.

Thus was born a new sauce that at our house has become so versatile is such a short time, it might as well be called “everything sauce.”

It comes in three flavors – Cherry Chipotle, Blueberry White Pepper and Smoky Date. Other flavors will be along shortly (I hear they are going to be Cranberry Cayenne, Carrot Ginger, Raisin Rosemary and Plum 5-Spice. Yum x4!).

Although Not Ketchup is a natural on grilled burgers or ribs, lamb chops, sausages, roast turkey, pulled pork sandwiches and of course, French fries, I put the Cherry Chipotle to good use immediately in my signature dish, a kale salad!

I envisioned an updated Chinese chicken salad, with kale substituting for the lettuce, garbanzo beans adding more protein, a spicy cherry chipotle dressing standing in for the usual sesame-ginger variety, and of course, the crunchy chow mein noodles finishing it off.

Cherry Chipotle Not Ketchup has a delicious tangy-sweet flavor, with a spicy finish that kicks in midway. This is not your grandmother’s ketchup. 🙂

My daughter and I both inhaled the salad for lunch.

But not so fast! There are plenty of other ways to use Not Ketchup!

• Blueberry White Pepper slathered on your hard-cooked eggs for lunch, as above
• Not Ketchup on a cracker with cheese, as above
• Roasted Shrimp on a Skewer with Blueberry Not Ketchup
• Spinach Ricotta Grilled Cheese with Blueberry Not Ketchup
• Marinate a log of goat cheese in Blueberry, to spread on crostini with prosciutto 
• on Bruce Aidell’s grilled chicken apple sausages
• Smoky Grilled Red Onions with Cherry Chipotle, as above

Even breakfast!

• Yogurt with Blueberry Not Ketchup and fresh berries.

Even dessert!

• Limoncello crème brulee with fresh blueberries and Blueberry Not Ketchup

It’s a wonderful new product, well worth the search or the wait. Once you have it in your house, you will be slathering it on everything! Me? Just go ahead and give me a straw.

You can read Erika Kerekes’ path to production in her own words here, or visit the brand on social media:

• Not Ketchup website 
• Not Ketchup Facebook page
• Not Ketchup Twitter page (for lots of recipe ideas)

Not Ketchup is currently available at two places in Santa Monica, Calif. — Bob’s Market and Wine Expo — and at Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City, Calif., for about $8.99 per bottle (fruit is a LOT more expensive than tomatoes). More stores will be added very soon, but the online store is up and running for those not nearby.

Disclosure: My friend Erika of Not Ketchup gave me samples to taste and test. It’s a perk to have talented friends!

Tagged as: Chicken, Dino kale, Erika Kerekes, extra virgin olive oil, fruit sauce, garbanzo beans, kale salad, Not Ketchup, oranges, Salad, sauce