Have you ever found yourself neck-deep in a recipe only to realize you are out of a major ingredient? How do you tackle such situations? Let us tell you that leaving the job in between is not even an option on the list. In that case, we suggest making some smart moves and replacing the ingredient with something similar. In this article, we will talk about ways to add tanginess to a recipe. Tamarind is considered one of the best ingredients to add sweet and sour charm to a dish, which seems quite hard to replace. But that's not how it is! In fact, there are plenty of kitchen ingredients that come pretty close and work as great substitutes to save a dish. Let's take you through some of our favourite tamarind alternatives in a recipe.
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Here Are 5 Top Tamarind Substitutes You Can Try:
A perfect tamarind paste has a hint of sweetness, along with its tangy flavours. While the sourness adds flavour to a dish, sweetness helps balance it out. So, whenever you use a substitute, you need to make sure it has both elements in the right proportion. Let's check out some insanely good tamarind paste substitutes:
1. Lemon juice with sugar:
This is the most convenient option to replace a portion of tamarind paste. If you have brown sugar, take it with lemon juice in equal portions, mix well, and add it to a dish. And if there is common white sugar, reduce the amount by half.
2. Pomegranate juice:
Pomegranate not only helps add the taste but also the dark colour of tamarind in a dish. You need to mix pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and some sugar, and stir on medium flame to turn it into a thick syrup.
Also Read: From Market To Glass: How To Deseed Pomegranate And Make Its Juice
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3. Amchur powder:
Amchur powder is a spice made from dried, unripe mangoes. It has a sweet and tangy flavour, with a fruity aroma that adds a zing to your dish. The best part is you can use it just like tamarind paste, meaning one teaspoon of tamarind paste can be replaced with an equal amount of amchur powder.
4. Rice Vinegar:
Widely used in Indian and Asian cuisine, rice vinegar is a common ingredient available in almost every household. It is known for its somewhat sweet and mildly sour flavours that help add a distinct acidic note to your dish. Much like amchur powder, you can replace tamarind paste with an equal amount of rice vinegar.
5. Orange juice:
Although orange juice is not the most perfect alternative for tamarind paste, it helps add tangy, sweet, and fruity flavours to a dish. Orange juice is sweeter than tamarind; hence, you need to adjust the amount of sugar in your recipe accordingly.
From now on, don't worry when you run out of tamarind paste! Instead, use the above-mentioned ingredients in the right proportion to enjoy all the tastes and flavours in your dish.