How To Substitute Tamarind Paste With Ingredients You Already Have On Hand

Considerations for substituing tamarind paste

When a recipe requires a small quantity of tamarind paste, such as a few tablespoons, a mixture of sugar and citrus juice works perfectly. These recipes often utilize tamarind paste as a unique ingredient to enhance the flavor of pad Thai or to add a sweet and sour taste to soups and various noodle dishes. Although the sugar and citrus mixture may be thin and watery, the texture is not a significant concern in these cases.

However, substituting tamarind paste becomes more challenging for recipes like glazes, candies, cocktails, sauces, and certain desserts. In these situations, tamarind paste is valued for both its flavor and its thick consistency, making a blend of dried fruit or jam with citrus juice the best alternative. Opt for dried fruits or jams that offer sweet and tart flavors, such as apricot, plum, or cherry. If you decide to use sugar and citrus juice for a glaze or sauce, you'll need an additional ingredient to provide the necessary thickness. Consider using molasses instead of sugar, or simmering lime and sugar with applesauce.

For cocktails, dried fruit paste might be too thick and potentially chunky. Instead, try using pomegranate molasses as a substitute for tamarind, which can be found at Middle Eastern grocery stores. Pomegranate molasses is commonly used in Middle Eastern dishes and has a sweet and tart profile similar to tamarind paste. Its thinner consistency makes it easy to mix into drinks.