You can pick up tamarind paste already premade, but these sometimes have other ingredients in them as well, and it’s cheaper to make your own for a lot more. I usually pick up the Tamarind Paste in 1 lbs blocks and make Homemade Tamarind Paste.

You can find it in the Import or Specialty Section of your local grocery store or at your nearby specialty stores. I picked this one up at T&T.

How to make Homemade Tamarind Paste

Place the Tamarind Block into a Sauce pot and add 5 Cups of Water. Bring this to a boil. Shut the heat off and allow to cool slightly.

Once the Tamarind has softened a bit and while still warm. Start mashing it so that it can thicken the added water. Allow to sit again until almost cooled completely.

Strain through a medium strainer and mash the pulp around to extract all the juice.

Remaining Pulp

After extracting the paste, you can mix the remaining pulp with sugar to taste and other ingredients to make Fruit Roll Ups.

Spread the remaining Pulp mixed in with other ingredients of your choosing and Sugar. Spread thin on a baking sheet, optionally with waxed paper underneath, and dehydrate. When ready, cut into strips and roll them up with the waxed paper.

You can also just save the Pulp to create another smaller batch of Tamarind Paste or Freeze to add directly to other dishes.

Uses for Tamarind Paste

Tamarind Paste is something almost completely overlooked. But this simple Paste can add so much to a variety of dishes.

Tamarind Dipping Sauce
Add to Soups where some sourness is required
Use in BBQ Sauces
In Pad Thai
Create a Thai Sweet & Sour Sauce
Curries
Drinks

Storing Homemade Tamarind Paste

I fill an Ice Cube tray up and freeze. Once frozen, I place them into a Ziploc Bag and keep them frozen. Whenever a bit of tamarind paste is needed, I use up however many cubes I need.