What is tamarind paste used for?
Tamarind paste is made from a sour, dark, sticky fruit that grows in a pod on a tamarind tree. While some cuisines use tamarind paste to make desserts and even candy, in Thai cooking it is used mostly in savory dishes. Classic pad thai sauce is made with tamarind, as are some Thai curries and seafood dishes.
How do you use tamarind pods?
Separate the tamarind into small chunks and place the fruit into a medium heatproof bowl. (If using whole tamarind pods, remove and discard the outer shell and use the soft fruit inside.) Pour the boiling water over the tamarind, submerge completely, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for 30 to 45 minutes.
What’s in tamarind paste?
What is tamarind paste? Tamarind paste is a concentrated and sometimes cooked down paste made of tamarind fruit. For this recipe, tamarind paste is made by soaking fresh tamarind flesh with boiling water, straining it through a filter, and then cooking it down to produce a concentrated tangy flavor.
Is tamarind fruit good for you?
Tamarind is a very heart-friendly fruit. Flavonoids present in tamarind lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol and raise HDL or “good” cholesterol levels, thus preventing the build-up of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood. It also has high potassium content which can help keep your blood pressure in check.
What can I do with tamarind fruit?
Heat and water dissolve the flesh and release its fruity sourness. On other occasions, tamarind is extracted with hot water, then added. Besides its inclusion in savory dishes, tamarind is also used in sweet preparations, from the popular sweet-and-sour chutneys used in Indian street food to spicy tamarind candies.
Are tamarinds healthy?
What is a tamarind fruit?
Tamarind is a hardwood tree, known scientifically as Tamarindus indica. It’s native to Africa but also grows in India, Pakistan, and many other tropical regions. The tree produces bean-like pods filled with seeds surrounded by a fibrous pulp. The pulp of the young fruit is green and sour.
Is there another name for tamarind?
Other Name(s): Imlee, Imli, Tamarin, Tamarindo, Tamarindus indica, Tamarinier, Tamarinier d’Inde, Tintiri.
What is tamarind fruit?
The tamarind tree produces a pod-like fruit called the tamarind fruit, which is also considered a legume. Although native to Africa, the pulp of the tamarind fruit is used in recipes around the world, from India to Thailand to the Caribbean and beyond. It has a sour-sweet taste and is available in many different forms.
What can you do with tamarind?
You can also find tamarind balls, a dessert made of tamarind, sugar and spices. Tamarind is a great way to tenderize meat because of its high acidity, which breaks down tougher cuts. Use it in marinades for tender meat and a hint of sour flavor.
What is the nutritional value of tamarind?
Tamarind is high in many nutrients. A single cup (120 grams) of the pulp contains ( 2 ): It also contains 6 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, and less than 1 gram of fat. This comes with a total of 287 calories.
Can tamarind fruit help you lose weight?
Research has found some promising results demonstrating that tamarind fruit could have an anti-obesity effect and may be able to aid in weight loss. Specifically, tamarind seeds may contain a compound that blocks the activity of trypsin, an enzyme involved in the breakdown of protein.