Sweet Tamarind Chutney Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds, ginger, cayenne pepper, fennel seeds, asafoetida powder, and garam masala; cook and stir for about 2 minutes to release the flavors.
• Stir the water into the pan with the spices along with the sugar and tamarind paste. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat until the mixture turns a deep chocolaty brown and is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. This should take 20 to 30 minutes. The sauce will be thin, but it will thicken upon cooling.

Steps:

• Using your hands break the block of Tamarind down into smaller pieces first.
• Soak the tamarind in the hot water for 20 minutes.
• Once softened, strain the mixture through a fine sieve and discard the husks and seeds.
• Place a frying pan over a medium heat and add the cumin and coriander seeds. Dry roast them for a minute, then tip the spices into a bowl.
• Place the chilli powder, salt, jaggery or sugar and dates into a blender. Add the roasted cumin and coriander seeds and 2 tablespoons of water and blend to a fine puree.
• Scrape the puree into a bowl and mix in the tamarind extract.
• Stir well and add a little water if you think the chutney is too thick (it should have a thin pouring consistency).
• Cool completely, store in the fridge and eat within 3 days.

Steps:

• Place the jaggery, dates and water in a deep boiling pan for about 2 hours.
• After the dates become smooth, blend in a mixer till smooth.
• Strain and transfer to the pan again.
• Add the tamarind paste and seasoning.
• Boil till thick enough to coat the back of a spoon thinly.
• Cool again. Store in clean airtight bottles and refrigerate.
• Shelf life of about a month in the refrigerator.
• * Here, I have used tamarind paste. But in case you do not have tamarind, soak the tamarind in water and extract its paste.
• What I usually do is use dry tamarind powder which I get from Indian grocery stores.

Steps:

• Gently mash tamarind with water in a small bowl until pulp is softened. Force pulp through a sieve into a 2- to 3-quart saucepan, pressing on and then discarding seeds and thick fibers. Add sugar and cook over low heat, stirring, just until sugar is dissolved, then return mixture to cleaned bowl.
• Toast coriander, cumin, and anise seeds in a small skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 2 minutes. Cool completely, then finely grind in grinder. Stir spices into tamarind mixture along with chile powder and salt.
• *Available at Indian markets and Kalustyan's (800-352-3451).

Steps:

• In a medium sauté pan, heat the oil over medium until it glistens, about 1 minute. Add the cumin, coriander, fennel and red-pepper flakes, and sauté until aromatic and lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
• Add the tamarind, jaggery, raisins, dates and fresh ginger, increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent scorching and to encourage the flavors to mingle.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chaat masala, ground ginger and kala namak. Transfer the chutney to a food processor or blender and blend on high speed until smooth, adding a little water if needed to create a thick but pourable consistency.
• Taste and season with kosher salt. The chutney will keep in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.