Name: Tamarind Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1/3 cup of water; 2 tablespoons of seedless tamarind pulps; 2 tablespoons of sugar; 2 tablespoons of fish sauce; 2 cloves of garlic, crushed (option); 2 chopped hot pepper (option)

Tamarind Sauce

Tamarind Sauce, a delightful Khmer creation, boasts a unique blend of sweetness, sourness, and spiciness, making it an exquisite dip for meat or seafood. This ethnic sauce captures the essence of Khmer culinary flavors, providing a tantalizing experience for those who relish complex taste profiles.

To prepare this flavorful sauce, combine water and seedless tamarind pulps in a small saucepan, heating the mixture until it reaches a gentle boil. The addition of sugar, fish sauce, crushed garlic (optional), and chopped hot pepper (optional) follows, creating a harmonious medley of flavors. Stirring until the sugar dissolves, the sauce is then removed from heat and left to cool before serving.

A unique characteristic of tamarind is its ability to absorb liquid rapidly, similar to a sponge. This quality allows for easy adjustment of the sauce’s consistency and flavor as needed. For those with a sweeter palate, more sugar can be added, while additional fish sauce provides a saltier kick. Tasting the sauce before serving ensures that it aligns with personal preferences.

Tamarind Sauce serves as a versatile accompaniment, elevating the dining experience with its rich and nuanced taste. Its appeal lies not only in its distinctive sweet, sour, and spicy notes but also in the flexibility it offers for customization. This straightforward yet flavorful recipe encapsulates the essence of Khmer culinary craftsmanship, where the balance of ingredients creates a sauce that is both delightful and easily adaptable to individual tastes. Enjoy the complexity of flavors in this delicious tamarind creation.

Ingredients

1/3 cup of water
2 tablespoons of seedless tamarind pulps
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of fish sauce
2 cloves of garlic, crushed (option)
2 chopped hot pepper (option)

Directions to make Tamarind Sauce

Put water and tamarind in a small sauce-pan, stirs and cook till water bubbling.
Add sugar, fish sauce, garlic and hot chili pepper, stirs till sugar dissolved, removed from heat, let it cool before serve.
Note: Tamarind absorb liquid very fast like sponge, add more fish sauce as you eat. If you like sweeter, add more sugar. More fish sauce if you like it saltier.
Always taste the sauce to your liking before serve.

Enjoy it

Related Recipe: Hoisin Dipping Sauce