What Is Tamarind Paste? 6 Tamarind Paste Substitutes

Tamarind paste uses the edible fruit of the tamarind tree. The fruit has a sweet flavor balanced by a sour flavor, and the paste’s flavor profile is much the same as fresh tamarind, albeit more concentrated. Tamarind paste has a slight acidity, like lemon juice, but not as much as apple cider vinegar does.

To make tamarind paste, producers cook tamarind pods in boiling water for about an hour, then they run the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to reveal the tamarind pulp, which creates a thick paste as it absorbs the hot water. When making tamarind paste at home, it’s important not to force the tamarind through the strainer or else the mud and stones end up in the final paste.

In most grocery stores, tamarind paste and tamarind concentrate are the same thing. If a recipe calls for tamarind concentrate, you can usually use tamarind paste without any issues. However, there are those who make a clear distinction between tamarind paste and tamarind concentrate, the main difference being the taste. The tasting notes of tamarind paste are stronger than that of concentrate because it comes from the fruit itself. Some concentrates come from the juice, which has a diluted flavor, or other parts of the fruit, but not the entire fruit. Tamarind concentrate frequently comes from India. All of this could vary depending on the quality of the brand. Keep in mind that some grocery store tamarind pastes and concentrates contain artificial sweeteners or preservatives.

Tamarind paste’s sweet, sour, fruity, and tangy flavor makes it a good addition to many types of cuisines. Here are five ways you can use tamarind paste:

1. 1. Candies: Mexican candies in particular use tamarind paste. The candies are sweet, chewy, and highlight the taste of tamarind. The candies come in many forms, from tamarind rope to hard candy.
2. 2. Chutney: Tamarind chutney is a popular condiment in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Tamarind chutney is thick, sweet, and tangy and usually also includes a mango flavor, either from mango powder, also known as amchur powder or amchoor.
3. 3. Pad thai: Combine tamarind paste with fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and many other ingredients, such as tofu, chicken, peanuts, and bean sprouts to make a classic pad thai dish. Tamarind paste is one of the most common ingredients in Thailand.
4. 4. Stir-fry: Adding tamarind paste brings a distinct Thai flavor to a stir-fry, which is a classically Chinese dish. Incorporate ginger, scallions, and citrus juice to balance the tamarind flavor.
5. 5. Tamarind balls: In the Caribbean, tamarind balls are a classic dessert. In Jamaica and Trinidad, cooks roll the fruit itself in sugar; other places roll the paste into balls and then roll that in sugar.

If tamarind paste is the main ingredient in your recipe, it’s likely a tamarind substitute will dramatically alter the dish. On the other hand, it is possible to make substitutions for tamarind paste as a lesser ingredient in some soups, sauces, and marinades and still achieve the desired flavor. Here are six possible tamarind substitutes:

1. 1. Acid and brown sugar: If a recipe calls for two tablespoons of tamarind paste, use an equal amount of an acid, like vinegar or lime juice, plus brown sugar. The lime juice mimics the sour taste of tamarind paste and the brown sugar mimics the sweetness.
2. 2. Amchur powder: A dried powder, amchur powder comes from unripe mangoes. To create a paste that imitates the texture of tamarind paste, mix equal parts amchur powder and water.
3. 3. Dried fruit and lemon juice: Creating a paste with dried fruits (like apricots or prunes) and lemon juice is a good substitute for tamarind paste. Depending on the dried fruit you use, you can achieve a very similar flavor to tamarind.
4. 4. Pomegranate molasses: You can use pomegranate molasses as a one-to-one substitute for tamarind paste. This ingredient is an excellent substitute for tamarind paste because it possesses a similar taste and texture, and it interacts with other ingredients in a similar way.
5. 5. Rice vinegar: Mix rice vinegar or white wine with an equal amount of brown sugar to replace tamarind paste in recipes. The rice vinegar or wine adds acidity and some sweetness, while the brown sugar enhances that sweetness. Use this as a one-to-one substitute for tamarind paste in recipes.
6. 6. Worcestershire sauce: Mix together Worcestershire sauce, water, fresh lemon juice, brown sugar, and tomato paste to make a tamarind paste substitute. In fact, some Worcestershire sauces already have tamarind in them.

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