Tamarind Dipping Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Combine the tamarind and 2 cups of the water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the tamarind has softened, about 15 minutes. Help it along by breaking up the pulp with a spoon.
• 2. Strain the tamarind through a sieve, pressing on the pulp to extract as much water as possible. Discard the pump and seeds and return the water to the pan. Add the ginger, garlic, 3 tablespoons sugar, the chili-garlic sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• 3. Whisk the cornstarch with the remaining 2 tablespoons water. When smooth, whisk the mixture into the tamarind sauce, continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool. Before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more sugar if necessary to balance the tartness of the tamarind. Store tamarind sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Steps:

• To a small saucepan, add water, palm sugar, fish sauce, and tamarind paste. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Add chile powder; whisk to break up the palm sugar and tamarind pulp. Continue cooking on a low simmer, 5-8 minutes. Pour dipping sauce into a bowl and cool to room temperature. Makes about 1½ cups. You can store it in the refrigerator in a sealed container for weeks.

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the vinegar and brown sugar to a low boil. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and reduce by half to produce a syrup.
• Reduce the heat to low and stir in the pre-heated beef broth, (I do this in the microwave until it's about 110 degrees F.) Then stir in the tamarind paste, garlic, and the ginger. Allow to reduce just a little and then strain the sauce into a serving bowl.
• NOTE: Tamarind sauce can be obtained at an ethnic grocer (some sell online).

Steps:

• Combine cashews, hoisin sauce, garlic, green onion, cayenne pepper and black pepper in a blender or food processor and mix until smooth.
• In a small sauce pan add oil, honey, rice wine vinegar and tamarind pulp.
• Heat at medium for 1 minute.
• Stir until the tamarind pulp is completely dissolved.
• Add this to the cashew mixture and process until smooth.
• Pour into a serving bowl and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Whisk in the tamarind liquid and water. When the mixture comes to a boil, remove from the heat.
• Whisk in the sugar and fish sauce, starting out with the smaller amounts. Taste and add additional sugar or fish sauce to create a tart, spicy, sweet, savory sauce. Set aside, uncovered, to cool to room temperature and to let the flavors bloom.
• Before serving, taste again and adjust the flavor balance a final time. Transfer to a serving bowl or divide the sauce among individual dipping sauce bowls. If all the diners like chile heat, add the chile slices to the bowl(s). If not, serve the chile slices on the side for diners to add as desired.