What Is Tamarind? A Complete Information to the Ingredient and Tips on how to Use It

Entire Tamarind Pods

The least processed type of tamarind you should buy, entire tamarind pods are massive brown peanut-shaped fruits with pulp and seeds on the within. The pods are sometimes bought both in massive plastic baggage or containers.  When buying tamarind pods, Gutierrez says to “press on the tamarind pod to test if the laborious shell is crunchy and breaks simply. There shouldn’t be any fungus or mildew that’s rising.” One other trick I exploit that doesn’t require urgent on the tamarind is to discover a bag with a better distribution of longer pods, because the longer pods are simpler to crack, which signifies high quality.

How and when to make use of entire tamarind pods: The pulp contained in the tamarind pods is what’s used for cooking or consuming. “In Guatemala, the place I grew up, we’d peel tamarind and eat them,” says Gutierrez. “The peel, in fact, is sort of a peanut peel, [but] a little bit bit messier as a result of it sticks to the within of the tamarind. We might suck on the tamarind and ensure to not eat the large seeds. The pleasure of consuming simply tamarind, like that, for me, is large.” 

Most tamarind pods bought within the US are labeled as “candy tamarind” as a result of they’re extra candy than bitter; bitter varieties are sometimes processed into tamarind pulp. Chongchitnant prefers utilizing candy tamarind pods for snacking slightly than cooking, since savory dishes like pad thai profit from the bitter taste of tamarind pulp. The pulp from the candy tamarind pods may also be used to make do-it-yourself candy treats like caramels or fruit leathers.

Storing entire tamarind pods: Entire, unpeeled tamarind pods may be saved within the fridge, the place they need to final for a number of weeks, in keeping with Chongchitnant. 

Tamarind Pulp

Tamarind pulp is the inside flesh of the tamarind pod, sometimes bought in massive, compressed blocks which are darkish brown and both moist or dehydrated. The moist selection, which is extra extensively obtainable, is semi-processed with some fibers and seeds eliminated, although a couple of often stay. The dehydrated model, usually present in Indian and Center Jap shops, is a darkish brown-black colour and accommodates all fibers and seeds, making it tougher in texture however extra shelf-stable. 

How and when to make use of tamarind pulp: Each the moist and dehydrated pulps must be processed into do-it-yourself pastes earlier than use in recipes, however the effort is value it for the balanced tart and candy taste they supply. 

To make do-it-yourself tamarind paste from pulp, break aside a small piece of the pulp and steep it in boiling water for no less than quarter-hour. As soon as it’s cool sufficient to deal with, squeeze and mash the pulp to separate it from the fibers and seeds. Pressure the combination by a sieve, utilizing extra water for a diluted paste that’s best for stews or curries, and fewer water for a thicker paste suited to marinades or stir-fries. 

This similar technique may also be used to make a paste from the pulp inside entire tamarind pods, however, since these pods are usually candy, they may in flip yield a do-it-yourself paste that can also be candy.

Storing tamarind pulp and do-it-yourself tamarind paste: A moist tamarind block may be saved at room temperature till opened, after which it must be refrigerated and can final a number of weeks. A dehydrated tamarind block, nonetheless, can stay at room temperature even after opening, and may final effectively over a 12 months. The do-it-yourself paste constructed from the pulp may be saved within the fridge for a number of weeks. 

“If I’ll make [tamarind paste from pulp], I’ll make a big batch that’s going to final me for years,” says Martinez. “I freeze them in baggage for a future day. If all I would like is a pair tablespoons for a recipe, I can break off a bit prefer it’s an ice dice, after which throw it in a pot.”

Tamarind Paste or Tamarind Focus

Tamarind paste and focus bought in shops are ready-to-use merchandise constructed from processed tamarind pulp or pods, freed from seeds and fibers. Nonetheless, the labels “tamarind focus” and “tamarind paste” are used interchangeably, which may trigger confusion when studying recipes and procuring. Nonetheless, you possibly can know extra about what sort of product you’re getting not from these labels, however slightly from the place the product was made. If the tamarind is from Thailand, Vietnam, or Latin America, will probably be a brown liquid, whereas Indian tamarind focus is black and sticky; these two varieties can’t be used interchangeably. Generally, Indian tamarind pastes like Tamicon are sometimes extra intense, requiring solely a teaspoon for a powerful bitter taste in comparison with Thai, Vietnamese, or Latin American manufacturers like Aroy-D and Cock, which require no less than a tablespoon. 

How and when to make use of tamarind paste or focus: When following recipes—particularly when tamarind is the star ingredient within the dish—my most well-liked technique is to make tamarind paste from scratch as a substitute of utilizing store-bought focus or pastes, because it yields the freshest and purest style. In my expertise, most store-bought pastes and concentrates comprise preservatives like citric acid, which may impart a man-made taste, just like how bottled lemon juice will style much less candy and extra tart than contemporary lemon juice. 

“Once I was growing a recipe for a tamarind salsa, I examined the bottled paste vs. the do-it-yourself paste,” says Martinez. “I noticed that you just would possibly hate that salsa on account of the processed style of the bottled paste. It’s just like for those who’re making a tomato salsa—if you do not have good tomatoes, you form of smash your salsa. Nonetheless, in my guide Mi Cocina, I’ve a tamarind shrimp recipe. I used to be rather less involved about utilizing bottled paste right here, as a result of while you’re utilizing it, there are such a lot of different flavors concerned.” 

The bottled pastes are my go-to after I must get dinner on the desk quick and I don’t have time to make do-it-yourself tamarind paste. Non-Indian bottled tamarind paste and do-it-yourself paste constructed from pulp or pods can usually be used interchangeably. 

I usually begin with half the beneficial quantity of tamarind paste, and style and modify to realize my desired stability of candy and bitter. “Completely different manufacturers of tamarind paste fluctuate tremendously in acidity, so that you at all times must style and modify your dish everytime you cook dinner with tamarind,” says Chongchitnant. Due to this, it’s finest to make use of the precise model beneficial within the recipe, or a paste from the identical area because the beneficial model. If no model is specified, I exploit Indian manufacturers for Indian recipes and non-Indian manufacturers for all others. 

“You possibly can modify the recipe and make it sweeter by including extra sugar, or including a little bit little bit of lime juice or lemon juice for acidity,” says Gutierrez.

Storing tamarind paste or focus: Bottled tamarind pastes and concentrates may be saved within the pantry till opened, then refrigerated, the place they sometimes final no less than 12 months.

Tamarind Powder

Tamarind powder—constructed from tamarind pulp that’s dehydrated and floor, then combined with cornstarch to forestall clumping—is a tangy, brown powder that delivers a bitter kick just like the coating on bitter sweet. Out of all of the tamarind merchandise, it is probably the most tough one to supply in shops, doubtless as a result of it’s newer to the market, however it’s simply discovered on-line.

How and when to make use of tamarind powder: Tamarind powder is finest utilized in a recipe the place you wish to add the flavour of tamarind with out incorporating extra liquid. It really works nice in dry spice blends, as a dusting for rooster wings, or for rimming cocktail glasses. 

“I just like the powder as a result of it delivers on the mouth-watering bitter taste that I like with out having to vary the feel of the dish or add liquid,” says Balingat. In Balingit’s guide, Mayumu, she requires tamarind powder in her sampalok tajin snickerdoodles to maintain extra moisture out of the cookies, protect their texture, and supply a second acidic element alongside cream of tartar for advanced taste outcomes. 

Storing tamarind powder: When saved in a cool, darkish spot in your spice cupboard or pantry, tamarind powder must be used inside six to eight months after opening, after which it can start to lose its taste.

Recipes That Use Tamarind

There are a variety of dishes throughout numerous cuisines that spotlight tamarind’s candy and bitter notes.

Tamarind in Indian Delicacies

Tamarind paste is used as a souring agent in Indian dishes like fish curries and hearty lentil stews like sambar, the place it provides a pop of acidity. Rising up, my mother would make tamarind rice for varsity lunches by including a thick tamarind paste with spices and tossing it with fluffy basmati rice for a bitter and spicy dish. Tamarind paste is a non-negotiable in dishes like rasam, the place it contributes a mouth-puckering tang. It’s additionally added to chutneys like tamarind date chutney and tomato chutney for a lift of brightness.

Tamarind in Thai Delicacies

Thai cooking leans on tamarind paste as a souring element in stir-fries and sauces. Pad thai is considered one of Chongchitnant’s favourite Thai dishes that makes use of tamarind, and different dishes that play on the candy and bitter traits of this ingredient embrace massaman curry, Thai fried eggs in tamarind sauce, and Thai crimson snapper and inexperienced papaya bitter curry. 

Tamarind in Filipino Delicacies

Within the Philippines, tamarind is used closely in all types of functions like sampalok (tamarind) candies coated with candy or spicy coatings. However Balingat notes that the preferred Filipino dish that options tamarind is sinigang. “It makes use of tamarind and tomatoes for an excellent bitter stew,” she says. “There’s something about each chunk that doesn’t get tiring due to the bitter style in each chunk.”

Tamarind in Mexican and Different Latin American Cuisines

Martinez notes that in Mexican delicacies, tamarind pulp is utilized in a variety of completely different drinks. “A very talked-about tamarind drink in Mexico is agua de tamarindo,” he says. “Recent tamarind is added to a five-gallon batch of agua fresca to serve with meals. The drink is de facto balanced; there is a good quantity of acidity to it, and never too candy. Of us additionally use jicama like a paleta and drizzle it in tamarind syrup and chamoy, then sprinkle tajin and provides it to children. It’s like a sweet-sour tamarind popsicle that doesn’t soften even whether it is 100 levels.” Gutierrez additionally suggests mixing tamarind into margaritas or micheladas “so as to add one other dimension of sweetness.” The important thing to doing this efficiently is beginning with small quantities and adjusting to your liking.

Popsicles

Tamarind and Palm Sugar Popsicles With Chili Salt

Extra extensively in Latin American cooking, tamarind can be utilized anyplace that you must add a little bit little bit of acid and sweetness to a dish, and its acidity additionally helps break down the proteins in meat. “I like to make use of [tamarind] in robust cuts like briskets or the lesser cuts of beef and goat which are a little bit bit tougher to cook dinner down and to make tender and crumble,” explains Gutierrez. She additionally encourages utilizing it in desserts, sauces, and vinaigrettes. “Rising up, we had a mouth-watering dessert referred to as mil hojas, with layers of puff pastry, egg custard, and tamarind sauce,” says Gutierrez.

The Takeaway

Tamarind is a flexible fruit obtainable in numerous types: pods, pulp, paste, and powder. Every has its personal makes use of, however all of them contribute a distinctively candy and bitter taste to dishes. Tamarind pods are nice for snacking, whereas do-it-yourself paste constructed from pulp presents the freshest and most balanced taste. Retailer-bought tamarind paste is nice while you’re brief on time, and tamarind powder provides tang with out contributing extra liquid to a recipe. This candy and bitter ingredient imparts a fruity tang to Indian, Thai, Filipino, Mexican, and Latin American cuisines, to call a couple of, making it a precious addition to your kitchen pantry.