Can I use store-bought tamarind sauces instead of making my own tamarind paste?

Yes, absolutely! Store-bought tamarind sauces are convenient and give the same flavor depth as homemade tamarind paste or concentrate. Each brand is slightly different in texture and sourness, adjusting the other ingredients in the recipe to balance the flavors.

What is the best way to incorporate Thai tamarind sauce into Indian cuisine?

Thai Tamarind Dipping Sauce can be a fantastic addition to Indian cuisine, especially regarding Indian chaat recipes and fried Indian street foods. Drizzle it over aloo chaat or samosa chaat to enhance the flavors and add a delightful tangy twist. It also pairs well with Indian appetizers like samosas, aloo tikki, and paneer pakora.

What is the key ingredient that gives Thai tamarind sauce its sour flavor?

The sour taste in the Thai Tamarind Dipping Sauce comes from tamarind, the fruit of the tamarind tree. Tamarind paste or concentrate is used as the base for this sauce, providing a distinctive tanginess that balances the sweetness and spices.

Can I use Thai tamarind dipping sauce for other dishes like chicken wings?

Absolutely! Thai Tamarind Dipping Sauce can be a great addition to chicken wings. Its sweet and sour flavor profile complements the savory notes of the wings, creating a harmonious combination. Drizzle the sauce over the cooked chicken wings or serve it as a dipping sauce.

Tamarind is a tropical fruit that grows in pods on the tamarind tree. The fruit is brown and sticky inside the tamarind pods, with a tangy and sweet taste. It is commonly used in cooking and making sauces, drinks, and candies. Learn more about this important ingredient used in Asian cooking here.

Tamarind Dipping Sauce

Name: Sweet Tamarind Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon oil; 2 tablespoons garlic, chopped small; 3 tablespoons shallot, chopped small; 3 tablespoons cilantro stems chopped small; 1 cup water; 3 tablespoons brown sugar or palm sugar; 1 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce; 1-3 tablespoons chili flakes (adjust according to your spice preference); 1/4 cup tamarind paste or concentrate. This is the main ingredient for this dipping sauce, don't skip it, please. Find these at Asian grocery stores.; 3 tablespoons water; 2 teaspoon tapioca starch

Description

Indulge your taste buds in the exotic Thai flavors with this easy Thai sweet tamarind dipping sauce recipe. Bursting with tamarind's sweet and tangy taste, this versatile sauce perfectly accompanies your favorite appetizers and snacks. The sauce can be made and ready to serve in 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

For the tamarind sauce

1 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoons garlic, chopped small
3 tablespoons shallot, chopped small
3 tablespoons cilantro stems chopped small
1 cup water
3 tablespoons brown sugar or palm sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
1-3 tablespoons chili flakes (adjust according to your spice preference)
1/4 cup tamarind paste or concentrate. This is the main ingredient for this dipping sauce, don't skip it, please. Find these at Asian grocery stores.

For the tapioca flour slurry

3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoon tapioca starch

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Instructions

Combine tapioca and 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl, whisk together then set aside for later.
In a medium skillet or saucepan on medium heat, add oil. Once hot, add garlic and shallot. Fry until lightly brown.
Add the water and sugar, whisk, and cook until dissolved, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the chopped cilantro stems, stir well, and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add the fish sauce, chili flakes, stir and cook for one minute.
Add the tapioca slurry next. Do a quick whisk with a fork before adding to help stir up the flour deposit at the bottom. Turn the stove to low heat, and often whisk until the sauce thickens slightly.
Add tamarind paste to the pan, stir well, and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Stir often. Taste and adjust with more fish sauce and sugar. Add more water if you'd like a thinner sauce. (up to 2 tablespoons). Remove from the stovetop, and transfer to a small bowl or an airtight container for serving or storage.

Notes

Buy tamarind paste at your local Asian, Latin, or Indian grocery store. You can also buy it online here.
Tamarind water is not the same thing as tamarind paste.
Adjust the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce by adding more or less brown sugar, fish sauce, or tamarind paste, according to your preference.
The sauce will thicken further as it cools at room temperature, so if it becomes too thick, add a little warm water and stir until desired consistency is reached.
Make a large batch for a large party by doubling the recipe.
Adding more water will give the sauce a thinner consistency, but adding too much water will dilute the flavors of the sauce, so adjust with fish sauce, sugar, and tamarind paste.

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Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 10
Category: Sauces
Method: stovetop
Cuisine: Thai