Catsup or Ketchup

I question this assertion. The Tomato Sauce in NZ and OZ looks like ketchup and is used like ketchup. To Americans, it tastes awful. In fact, even the stuff they sell as ketchup tastes different, although it is an improvement over the Tomato Sauce. I suspect the UK Tomato Sauce is similar to the NZ and OZ Tomato Sauce.

Next time I go to NZ, I will bring my own bottle of ketchup.

Heinz, big red is tomato sauce. it’s different to their ketchup

American tomato sauce is somewhere between crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Crushed tomatoes are are also sold canned, and really are just that - pulverized tomatoes, possibly strained to remove seeds (but I could be wrong about that). Tomato paste is like crushed tomatoes, only VERY thick. Used to add concentrated flavor to dishes, without a lot of liquid. Tomato sauce is a very smooth, somewhat thickened product typically with some seasonings, but not a lot; it’s much runnier than paste but thicker than plain crushed tomatoes. Think of melted ice cream, texture-wise.

Hunt’s Tomato Sauce

And pour it on pie floaters.

You are questioning that I, as a kid (and probably still do), referred to Heinz Tomato Ketchup as “tomato sauce”? Seriously? Do you know something I don’t?

I have no idea what “big red” is. I am referring to the stuff that says “Tomato Ketchup” on the bottle and is made by Heinz.

This stuff:

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Condiments/Heinz_Tomato_Ketchup_342g.html

So where did the “Catsup” spelling come from? The root seems to be pronounced like “ketchup” and is even anglicized that way, not only in janeslogin’s cite, but in every one I’ve seen. Cecil says that he gathers that the Chinese word is pronounced more like “catsup”, but that’s not at all evident from what’s written there. Certainly I’ve only heard the word pronounced “ketchup”. 19th century recipe books I’ve looked at all have the “ketchup” pronunciation, even when the ingredients were walnuts. The only place I’ve ever seen “catsup” is on some product labels.

Oh and by the way, Wikipedia (yeah, yeah) has this to say:

“Red Sauce” is commonly said in areas of the United Kingdom, as is “Brown Sauce” which refers to a variety of HP-alikes (Daddies Sauce was popular in my house and was referred to as “brown sauce”).

I say/spell/think ‘ketchup’ but I’m glad that ‘catsup’ is still knocking around.

I always think of Monty Burns shopping without Smithers. “Ketchup, catsup, ketchup, catsup.”

What you call tomato sauce, we (Brits) would call passata. What you call tomato paste, we call tomato purée. What you call crushed tomatoes (in a can), we would call chopped tomatoes. Tomato sauce = ketchup in the UK.

And what you call tomato, we call tomato. :smiley:

eh???

Ahhhh!!!

:smiley: