- There are ingredients we use to flavor our dishes within the cooking niche.
- Tamarind paste is one of these ingredients, but it is not always easily accessible or available in all stores.
How Much Tamarind Paste to Use in a Curry
Tamarind paste is a common ingredient in Thai curries. When making your curry, it helps to know how much tamarind paste to use for the desired flavor profile.
Start by adding one tablespoon and taste as you go along. Add accordingly if more or less flavor is desirable.
It depends on the amount of curry your recipe demands! Tamarind paste has a strong flavor, so adding just one tablespoon will often do the trick.
10 Best Substitutes For Tamarind Paste
The best tamarind paste is the one that you can find! Look for alternative ingredients if your grocery store doesn’t offer tamarind paste.
Tamarind and its substitutes share similar flavor profiles. Thus, taste as you go along until you strike the right balance of flavors.
Thai Tamarind Paste
Thai Tamarind Paste is an excellent alternative to regular tamarind paste. You can find it in most Asian markets, and it has a slightly different flavor profile than the regular stuff.
Thai Tamarind Paste usually contains sugar and fish sauce, giving dishes a nice salty-sweet balance.
Tamarind Paste Tesco
If you’re looking for a Tamarind Paste that is readily available and easy to find, Tamarind Paste Tesco is a good option. It’s not as exotic as the Thai Tamarind Paste, but it will still give your dish a nice flavor boost.
Tamarind Paste Safeway
Safeway also carries Tamarind Paste, so this is a good option if you’re looking for an alternative to Tamarind Paste that can be easily found.
Tamarind Paste Amazon
If you are looking for a more convenient way to purchase tamarind paste, Tamarind Paste Amazon is a great option! Tamarind Paste Amazon offers the same quality as other brands of tamarind paste, but they offer the convenience of ordering online via international shipments.
Other Alternatives of Tamarind Paste Taste
There are other alternatives, such as Worcestershire sauce which carries the same salty, tangy, acidic flavors as tamarind paste.
Tamarind and Worcestershire sauce share a deep, complex flavor profile that can substitute each other in curries or other dishes.
You can substitute tamarind with other flavors such as lime juice, lemon juice, vinegar, ketchup, tomato sauce, and more!
Now, let’s discuss some options for substitute tamarind paste and why they work best.
Lime Juice
Lime juice is one popular alternative to tamarind paste. Tamarind and lime share the same tart and acidic flavors, but they have varying textures.
Lime has slight bits of pulp in it, adding more juiciness than straight-up watery puree as tamarind does.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another popular alternative to tamarind paste. Tamarind and lemon have tart acidic flavors but with varying textures.
However, lemon has no pulp in it. While sourness can be slightly more intense than lime or tamarind, this could also mean an extra step of straining for a smoother sauce.
Vinegar
White vinegar or apple cider vinegar can substitute tamarind paste in a pinch. Tamarind and vinegar have sour, acidic flavors that carry the same flavor profile.
Unlike lime and lemon, there is no sweetness in vinegar. Thus, vinegar may give your dish a more harsh flavor profile.
Ketchup or Tomato Sauce
Ketchup and tomato sauce are both milder alternatives to tamarind paste. Tamarind and ketchup/tomato sauce share sweetness, sourness, and thickness making it a seamless substitute.
Brown Sugar or Palm Sugar
If you are looking for a sweeter alternative to tamarind paste, brown sugar or palm sugar can serve as suitable substitutes.
Tamarind and sugar share a caramelized flavor that is both sweet and acidic. Tamarind paste is slightly less sweet than sugar, but this could be the best choice if you are looking for a sweeter sauce.
Final Thoughts
Tamarind paste is a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine, but it can be challenging to find. We’ve discussed some alternatives to Tamarind Paste that will work best in your dish.
Whether you are looking for a readily available option or an exotic flavor profile, there is sure to be an alternative to Tamarind Paste.
