Cherry Tomato Ketchup with Orange Peel Vinegar
(Sweet, Bright & Balancing – Rooted in Seasonal, Cyclical Wisdom)
There’s something sacred about using every part of what you’ve been given. This sauce was born from that kind of reverence. After making a homemade citrus vinegar from orange peels—letting them sit and slowly infuse for 30 days—I felt called to use it in something simple, nourishing, and deeply flavourful.
Enter this cherry tomato ketchup: simmered low on the stove, sweetened with honey, and lifted by the brightness of the orange vinegar. It’s light but layered, sweet with a little tang, and makes a beautiful base for pastas, pizzas, or even spooned over roasted veggies and grains.
This is kitchen alchemy. Zero-waste meets deep nourishment.
Cherry Tomato & Citrus Vinegar Sauce
Makes: About 2–3 cups
Prep Time: 5–10 mins
Cook Time: 30–40 mins
Storage: Keeps in the fridge 5–7 days, or freeze up to 3 months
Ingredients:
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
½ red or yellow onion, chopped
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp orange peel vinegar (homemade or store-bought)
1–2 tsp raw honey, to taste
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Optional: pinch of cinnamon or red pepper flakes
Optional: dried or fresh basil, oregano, thyme
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add onion and sauté 2–3 minutes until soft.
Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
Add cherry tomatoes and a splash of water. Simmer uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring often.
Add the orange vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, and any optional herbs or spices.
Simmer another 10 minutes to deepen the flavor.
Blend with an immersion blender or leave slightly chunky.
Taste and adjust. Store in jars, top with a little olive oil if refrigerating.
Energetic Meaning: Tomatoes & Citrus
In energetic and symbolic medicine:
Tomatoes carry the energy of the heart and the blood. They’re ruled by the sun and associated with vitality, warmth, and circulation. Tomatoes invite movement—of emotions, of energy, of the blood. They nourish the sacral and heart chakras, balancing passion and compassion.
Citrus—especially orange peel—offers clarity, cleansing, and mental brightness. It clears stagnation, uplifts the mood, and cuts through foggy thinking. Citrus supports liver flow, emotional lightness, and the solar plexus (your will, power, and joy).
Together, this sauce balances earth and fire, sweet and sour, comfort and awakening.
Best Phase to Eat It In
This sauce is especially supportive during your:
Follicular Phase (Post-bleed to Ovulation):
Your energy is rising.
Digestion is stronger.
Your body can handle light, bright, acidic foods better during this time.
Citrus and tomato—both slightly cooling and stimulating—help awaken your creative energy and support detox pathways as your hormones begin to climb.
Pair it with leafy greens, lentils, grilled fish, or fermented flatbreads for a cycle-supportive meal.
How I Use It:
Tossed with pasta and fresh basil
Spread on homemade pizza or flatbread
Drizzled over roasted sweet potatoes, homemade fries or squash
Paired with lentils and quinoa
Spooned into a bowl with goat cheese and sourdough
This sauce is more than food—it’s a ritual. A way to work with your cycle, your scraps, your energy. A reminder that nourishment is both intuitive and intentional, and that beauty can be born from what we so often overlook.
