Drink to This! How to Make Tamarind Water in 8 Easy Steps
I can't get enough of Tamarind. I like it in candy form, rolled in chile and sugar, or the sweetened pulp squishy in a little plastic packet that you squeeze to release. I like it as a soda flavor and always feel a little exotic drinking it. I even like it in my pad thai. But the way I love it best is as agua de tamarindo -- refreshingly tart and sweet. It's one of those tastes that makes you want to keep drinking. I try and reach the end of the tart to get to the sweet but love the long sip all the way there. And I'm not the only one! Agua de tamarindo is super popular all over Mexico and is very common in Latin households and restaurants. Follow these easy to do instructions and have yourself a long sip of delicious agua de tamarindo tonight.
Ingredients for Agua de Tamarindo:
1 - pound of tamarindo pods
13 - cups water
1 1/2 - cups sugar
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Directions:
1. Peel outer shell and devein fleshy inner tamarind pods
2. Place all inner tamarind pods in a pot and fill with 9 cups of water. Boil tamarinds and water for 35 minutes over a medium high flame
3. Remove from flame and let cool for 10 minutes
4. In a large pitcher add sugar and two cups of tamarind water, mix until sugar dissolves
5. Set to the side. Remove tamarinds from water (keep water for later use) and place in a sieve over reserved water
6. With the back of a spoon smash tamarinds against sieve to get the remaining pulp off of the seeds. Soon black seeds will be exposed and all the pulp will have fallen into the reserved water below.
7. Slowly dip the bottom of the sieve into the reserved water and mix to make sure all pulp makes it's way through the sieve. Continue till all tamarinds are done.
8. Then dispose of seeds and pour the reserved water with tamarind pulp into pitcher with sugar water. Then add the remaining 4 cups of water to the pitcher. Give it a good mix and pour over ice in a tall glass or refrigerate over night. Enjoy!
- By Nicole Presley
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