Sonoran Tamarind Sauce Recipes

TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• Break up the block of tamarind into about six pieces in a small saucepan and cover with 375ml ( 1 ½ cups) water. Bring to a rolling simmer over medium-high heat, stirring often for about 5 minutes. Then remove from the heat and let it cool for another 5 minutes.
• Using a wooden spoon or potato masher, smash the tamarind in the water. The sauce will become thick like ketchup. Run this through a sieve into a bowl, pushing against the solids as you do. You should end up with a thick tamarind paste. If you have ever used shop bought tamarind concentrate, this is what you have though shop bought tamarind concentrate is much more concentrated. Discard any solids that remain in the sieve.
• Return the tamarind paste to the saucepan and add the cumin, chaat masala (if using), ginger, chilli powder and sugar. Bring to a simmer for about 3 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved. You can add a drop more water if you prefer a runnier sauce or reduce it more if you prefer a thicker sauce. Taste the sauce and add more sugar, salt or other spices to taste. (You will need to dissolve any additional sugar over a medium heat if added.)
• I store this in a convenient squirt bottle in the fridge.

SAMOSAS WITH TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• For the samosas: Place the potatoes in a pot with cold water to cover. Bring to a simmer and cook until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and let cool a bit.
• While they're still warm, peel and mash the potatoes and season with salt. Mix in the lemon juice, granulated sugar, cumin, cayenne, Thai bird chiles, cilantro and peas.
• Place some potato filling in the center the wonton wrappers. Moisten the edges of the wrappers, then fold into triangles and press to seal.
• Fill a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven with 2 inches of oil and heat to 350 degrees F. Fry the samosas in batches until golden brown.
• For the tamarind sauce: In a bowl, mix together the tamarind paste, apple butter, lemon juice, brown sugar, cayenne and some salt. Serve with the samosas.

SWEET AND SOUR TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat water in a saucepan over low heat. Dissolve sugar and tamarind powder in warm water; add soy sauce, peanuts, and red onions. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until onions become slightly translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir cilantro into the sauce; continue cooking until thickened to your liking, 5 to 7 minutes more.

TAMARIND KETCHUP

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together ketchup and tamarind paste.

TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the vinegar and brown sugar to a low boil. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and reduce by half to produce a syrup.
• Reduce the heat to low and stir in the pre-heated beef broth, (I do this in the microwave until it's about 110 degrees F.) Then stir in the tamarind paste, garlic, and the ginger. Allow to reduce just a little and then strain the sauce into a serving bowl.
• NOTE: Tamarind sauce can be obtained at an ethnic grocer (some sell online).

SONORAN TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring vinegar, brown sugar, and garlic to a low boil, whisking until brown sugar has completely dissolved.
• Boil, stirring often until liquid has reduced by half; liquid will be a syrup at this point.
• Lower heat to a simmer and whisk in the beef broth. Whisk in the tamarind paste. Stir in the ginger and simmer to let sauce reduce a little more.
• Pour sauce through a sieve into a serving bowl.
• Spoon over sliced pork tenderloin.

TAMARIND AND BALSAMIC SAUCE

Steps:

• In a bowl, pour water over tamarind and let sit for 10 minutes to hydrate, then mix well and strain pulp, leaving seeds, creating tamarind juice.
• In a saucepan, bring tamarind juice, balsamic vinegar, shallots, sugar, and garlic to a simmer and reduce to thicken to nappe consistency, about 20 to 35 minutes. Season to taste, strain, cool and refrigerate