Easy tamarind chutney recipe or Imli chutney - a tangy, sweet dipping sauce perfect to dip your homemade samosas or add to your favorite samosa chaat . This homemade condiment is better than any store bought chutney and rivals what you can get at your local Indian restaurant. It will elevate any dish with its tangy, spicy sweetness and delectable blend of flavors. Plus, this comes together in less than 5 minutes of prep apart from the soaking time!
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What is Tamarind Chutney or Imli Chutney?
Tamarind chutney, also known as imli chutney, is a tangy, somewhat spicy, and sweet sauce. It is very popular in India and Indian restaurants around the world.
It is great to dip samosas in. You could also use it as part of the toppings for your samosa chaat for some added flavor. You could also serve the chutney with our Dahi Bhalla Chaat for even more flavor.
What does Tamarind Chutney taste like?
Tamarind is a tropical fruit that is used a lot in Indian, Caribbean, and Thai cooking. The fruit has a range of flavor. In some cases, it can taste sweet and somewhat sour. In other cases, it can taste more tangy and tart.
Tamarind is often sold as a paste. The paste is harvested from the pods that grow on the tamarind tree.
Substitutes for tamarind paste include a mixture of sugar and vinegar or just plain lime juice.
How is Tamarind Chutney used?
Tamarind is used in several different recipes. In India, tamarind is made into a tangy, sweet chutney. You then dip your samosas into the mouthwatering dip.
In other cases, you can use the chutney flavored with tamarind to boost the flavors of your favorite chaat. We use it a lot when we make samosa chaat or dahi bhalla chaat.
Tamarind Chutney Ingredients
Here is what you’ll need to have ready in order to make this delicious recipe. Most of these ingredients are easily available at any asian grocery store or on amazon.
- Wet Seedless tamarind - you should be able to find this at your local Indian store or online
- Boiling water
- Sugar
- Salt
- Red chili powder
- Pink Himalayan salt or Black Salt
- Roasted cumin powder
- Dry ginger powder
How to make Tamarind Chutney
When you are ready to make this tasty chutney out of tamarind, pull out your blender and get a pot ready to bring some water to a boil.
Before beginning, soak your tamarind in 2 cups of hot boiling water for 2 hours.
Carefully pour the tamarind, tamarind water, and the rest of the ingredients into your blender.
When they are all added, blend the mixture until smooth.
Finally, use a strainer to separate the pulp from the liquid.
Pro tips and tricks
Tamarind chutney is an easy recipe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to make the best chutney ever. Here are some pro tips and tricks:
- Make sure to soak the tamarind for at least 2 hours in hot boiling water before blending it together.
- You can use fresh dates to add some added sweetness, just make sure to soak them first too.
- Store in a glass bottle for a longer shelf life.
Where can I get seedless Tamarind?
Tamarind can be hard to find at your local grocery store, but you should not have an issue finding it at your local Indian food store. If you have trouble finding seedless tamarind, you can use the paste instead.
Can I use tamarind paste instead?
Yes, you can use tamarind paste. It should provide a similar taste, but we use seedless tamarind because we find it has a fresher, better flavor.
If you use paste, you do not need to soak it first. Instead, you can blend the ingredients together with the paste.
Can I add dates to this recipe to sweeten it?
Yes, you can add dates to the recipe as well. They add a delicate sweet flavor to the chutney.
To use the dates, place them in water the same way you place the tamarind in water. Let them soak for two hours and then blend them together as described in the instructions.
How to store it?
In order to store the chutney, pour it into an airtight container or bottle. You can store unused for up to 60 days in the refrigerator.
If you prefer to freeze the chutney, you can pour it into ice cube trays and then place it in your freezer. You can store frozen chutney for up to 6 months.
To use, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator.
How long will it last?
When stored in an airtight container, the tamarind / imli chutney will last for about 60 days in the refrigerator. If you freeze it, it should last for about 6 months. I like to freeze small portions in ice cube trays.
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Easy Tamarind Chutney Recipe / Imli Chutney
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Easy Tamarind Chutney Recipe
- Total Time: 9 minutes
- Yield: 8 ounces
- Diet: VeganDiet
Description
Easy tamarind chutney recipe or Imli chutney - a tangy, sweet dipping sauce perfect to dip your homemade samosas or add to your favorite samosa chaat . This homemade condiment is better than any store bought chutney and rivals what you can get at your local Indian restaurant. It will elevate any dish with its tangy, spicy sweetness and delectable blend of flavors. Plus, this comes together in less than 5 minutes of prep apart from the soaking time!
Ingredients
- seedless tamarind 1 cup
- boiling water 2 cups
- sugar ¼ cup
- salt 1 tsp
- red chilli powder 1 tsp
- pink Himalayan salt or black salt ¼ tsp
- roasted cumin powder 1 tsp
- dry ginger powder ½ tsp
Instructions
- Soak the tamarind in 2 cups of boiling water for 2 hours.
- In a blender, add the soaked tamarind with water along with all the remaining ingredients. Blend it until smooth.
- Using a strainer, separate the fibrous pulp from the liquid. The chutney can be stored for upto 60 days in an air tight container.
Notes
- Make sure to soak the tamarind for at least 2 hours in hot boiling water before blending it together.
- You can use fresh dates to add some added sweetness, just make sure to soak them first too.
- Store in a glass bottle for a longer shelf life.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Additional Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Cuisine: Indian
Dianne Tracy Hillman Attoff says
Hi, thank you for a seemingly easy recipe. My question is if I am using the paste how much of it do I use and do I mix it with water to dilute it?