Tamarind Concentrate Main

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Tamarind Concentrate: Basic Recipe

Tamarind concentrate can be purchased from the grocery already made, or you can easily make it yourself. The concentrate is great because of its flavor and uses, and also, because it will keep in the refrigerator for a months.

This is what the tamarind seed pod looks like.

Tamarind Concentrate 1

Begin by shelling the pods with your hands, its very easy to do.

Tamarind Concentrate 2

Remove all the shells and add them to a bowl. After shelling, cover the fruit in boiling water and let it sit for several minutes. After soaking it is easy to remove the strings and seeds from the fruit.

Tamarind Concentrate 3

Tamarind need sugar to counter its strong sour taste. Add some lime for an extra flavor.

Tamarind Concentrate 4

Now just simmer for about 45 minutes and its ready.

Tamarind Concentrate 5

This concentrate is commonly used to make flavored water, all you have to do is strain it, and dilute it with water.  Best of all it keeps in the refrigerator for months and months…

Tamarind Concentrate 6

Homemade Tamarind Concentrate

Recipe Yield

1 cup

Cooking time

8 hours 45 minutes

Rate this recipe

3.34 from 3 votes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound dried tamarind with their peel
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

To Prepare

  • Peel tamarinds of the peel, large seeds and strains. Soak overnight. Strain in a colander and press with your hands or a spoon. Place tamarind juice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, add sugar, and simmer over medium heat for 40-45 minutes. Juice should have thickened considerably. Squeeze in the fresh lime juice, let it simmer for a couple more minutes and let it cool.
  • Store in a container with a tight lid in the refrigerator. It will keep for months.

Comments

10comments inTamarind Concentrate: Basic Recipe

  1. Josie Grimes

    Aug 25

    Can I use tamarind paste

    1. Pati Jinich

      Aug 26

      I guess you can Josie, but if your are going to buy the paste, you might as well buy the concentrate 🙂 Anyway, tamarind is delicious so enjoy it!

  2. Nikita

    Dec 04

    Thank you!

  3. nikita

    Nov 16

    Hi Pati! Are there any suggestions for buying good quality tamarind pods? There are usually many broken ones in the bags I see at the store. Is this OK? Does it affect the flavor or freshness? Thank you 🙂

    1. Pati

      Nov 16

      Look for ones that come in boxes! Usually they are in better shape. Nothing happens if part of the shells are broken…but ideally, not all the shells in all the pods…

  4. Maureen Bradley

    Jun 10

    Hi Pati: I wasn’t able to separate the seeds from the fruit. I shelled the tamarind and left it in boiling water for about 5-6 minutes. The string came off easily but the seeds didn’t separate from the fruit. Should I have left it in the boiling water for more time? Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks! Maureen

  5. Darlene

    May 04

    Hola Pati!
    Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I had been getting the concentrate from the grocery store but then they stopped selling it and I didn’t know how to make it. I wanted more than just the tamarind water…this was exactly what I was looking for! Muchas gracias!!!!

  6. Hilario

    Mar 16

    can’t you put it on shaved ice to make tamarindo raspados???

    1. Pati

      Mar 19

      Yes! Of course you can Hilario, YUM!

  7. Susanne

    May 05

    Dear Mrs. Jinich, do you think I can use the tamarind pulp (with seeds, without shells) that’s sold in block in indian stores?
    Thanks, Susanne

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