Tomato Mixture – Minnesota Style

Carol Ann Burtness

Home canners — Here is a researched tested recipe to home can a mixture of tomatoes, celery, peppers and onions. University of Minnesota Extension developed this tomato mixture. It was reviewed and tested by the National Center for Home Food Preservation. The tomato mixture may be safely canned using the following recommended boiling water bath process method. Use the canned tomato mixture in stews, soups, and Minnesota "hotdishes."

IMPORTANT: Acidity levels are critical to a safe product. DO NOT INCREASE the amount of pepper, onion or celery from what is stated in the recipe. DO NOT USE tomatoes that are soft, overripe, decayed, or tomatoes harvested from dead or frost-killed vines.

Minnesota Tomato Mixture

Yield: 6-7 pints

For food safety and to prevent botulism poisoning, measure carefully.

Ingredients

12 cups tomatoes, peeled and quartered
½ cup chopped bell pepper (green, red, yellow, orange, or a combination)
1 cup chopped celery
3 teaspoons canning salt
½ cup chopped onion
Bottled lemon juice or citric acid

Procedure

Wash tomatoes, remove stems and cores. Peel and quarter tomatoes.
Wash peppers, celery and onions. Chop.
Combine tomatoes, vegetables and salt together and simmer for 10 minutes.

Do not use tomatoes that are soft,
overripe, decayed, or tomatoes
harvested from dead or frost-killed vines.

To clean, hot canning jars, add ¼ teaspoon citric acid or 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice to each pint jar; add ½ teaspoon citric acid or 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice to each quart jar.
Add tomato mixture to the jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove excess air from the jar by running a spatula or bubble-freer between the mixture and the side of the jar.
Wipe jar rims, and cap with properly pretreated two-piece canning lids and process (see below). For 6-7 quarts, double the recipe and process.

Boiling water canner process times

Pints: 40 minutes
Quarts: 50 minutes

Related resources

Revised by Suzanne Driessen 2016