Bottom Line: Hoff’s Smoken Ghost Ketchup comes from a small batch and stands out among the many ketchups on the store shelves.
When it comes to spicy ketchups, there are plenty of them out there on the shelves, but I rarely pick one up. I have so many hot sauces and spicy seasonings in the kitchen that I can whip up a batch of spicy ketchup in no time, so why bother with buying a bottle? (In fact, watch for an upcoming recipe for my Spicy Pepper Ketchup.) But people know that I like spicy things, and often give gifts that involve something that brings the heat. (Please don’t give those cheap hot sauce gifts sets to your friends, more on that here). Just recently I received a bottle of Hoff’s Smoken Ghost Ketchup and was quite impressed, so I thought I would pass the word along about this one and the company it comes from.
This is a gourmet, small-batch ketchup made by Hoff & Pepper in Chattanooga, TN. That company–named after Aaron “Hoff” and Michelle “Pepper” Hoffman–specializes in craft hot sauces and decided to add a spicy ketchup to their lineup. I have not sampled their hot sauces yet, but based on the ketchup I will have to give them a try at some point, particularly their Smoken Ghost Hot Sauce. (Hey Hoff & Pepper, I’m always happy to receive free samples!) [Update: I review several of their sauce here.]
The Smoken Ghost Ketchup has a deep, rich taste that is really bold and stands apart. This is not run-of-the-mill Heinz ketchup! It brings some nice sweetness as a counterbalance to the richness, but not to the point of being cloying. And that raisiny taste of roast Ghost Peppers is in the background to help round out the flavor. It does not seem too hot after the first bite or two, but the heat builds up as you keep eating, getting to at least Medium level. This is a whole other level from generic, store-bought ketchup, and it is worth seeking out.
You can buy this directly from the Hoff & Pepper website and I have seen it online from a few other locations as well (expect a higher price from those sites). It costs $12 per bottle which is a bit pricey for 12.7 ounces, but as a gourmet ketchup I would say this is worth it. And while this is certainly good for dipping fries or tots, you may want to reserve it for a really good burger or special recipes where it can kick up the flavor. In fact, they have a Smoked BBQ Meatloaf recipe that I am thinking I am going to have to try. So if you are looking for a really good spicy ketchup, this one is definitely worth trying.
Website: hoffandpepper.com/collections/orderhoffsauce
Tale of the Tape
Ingredients: Tomato Concentrate, Vinegar, Cane Sugar, Chiles (Red Jalapeño, Habanero, Chipotle, Ghost Pepper), Salt, Onion Powder, Spices
Serving Size: 1 tbsp (17g)
Calories: 15
Fat: 0g (0g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 4g
Sodium: 115mg