Homemade Ketchup with Apple

Wash the vegetables thoroughly. Cut the tomatoes into quarters. Quarter the apples as well, remove the core, then cut them into smaller pieces. Peel the red onion and cut it into quarters.

Place the prepared ingredients into a large pot. Add the whole cloves, allspice, black peppercorns, and bay leaves. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes.

Purée the cooked mixture with an immersion blender, then strain it through a fine sieve to make it completely smooth. Pour it back into the pot, then add the cane sugar, apple cider vinegar, ground paprika, and salt. Cook on the lowest heat for about 4 hours, or until it reaches the desired consistency. You can check the consistency by dropping a small amount onto a plate: if no water separates from it, it's ready. At the end, blend it thoroughly once more for a silky texture.