Into a pot or wok, add 1-1/4 cup tamarind concentrate, 1/2 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced fresh gingerroot, and 1-1/2 teaspoon chili flakes. Bring to a boil and stir often until mixture is reduced to 1 cup, about 5 minutes.

I've never made a samosa pot pie but this sauce is great with seafood.

Joe

From my reading: Tamarind paste is usually sold in a block. It's supposed to be soaked in a bowl of hot water and then you press out the juice and discard the pulp and seeds.

Dunno about sauce but looks like Joe knows :)

Sands, where do you get a block of tamarind paste? I asked at W-S & they sent me to the large Asian grocery store. Since I didn't have a clue which area it might located, it was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. (Apparently, it is the base for a lot of candies judging by the many varieties I came upon but I didn't see any blocks of paste in that particular area). My not being able to read 95% of the labels complicated the problem & asking the clerk who spoke very little English didn't help either.

Any suggestions?

Joe thanks for the recipe - I will go with that. Sounds like it'll be perfect.

antiquesilver, I can't help you, I"m sorry. I bought several little tubs of tamarind concentrate at a specialty store in Toronto a couple years ago. They last a long time - but are due to expire this year -

"Tamarind sauce is a critical ingredient in many Thai foods, including the famous Pad Thai. Tamarind sauce is commonly used in various northern Thai dishes as a souring agent. Tamarind is also used in the manufacturing of ketchups, sauces--Chinese, Worcestershire, Barbecue, etc. Tamarind is also very effective as a natural preservative and marinade. Usually tamarind paste is mixed with water and strained, the resulting tamarind juice being what's used. This product is a concentrated form of tamarind juice (and very convenient to use because it removes the need for mixing & straining). "

There are a couple kinds of paste or concentrate on amazon - I may order from there.

Good luck!

Stacy

Stacy

antiquesilver - do you have a Whole Foods near you? They sell it in a little foil packet - looks like a mini version of what some kids juices come in. And if they tell you they don't carry it, look anyway over by the Asian aisle. That's what happened to me.

sheesh, I hate seeing my own typos - just glaring at me every time I visit here. tamarAnd....

I found canned tamarand juice at the grocery store in the juice section. Looks awful but drinks pretty good... but then I like very tart drinks. Don't remember the brand but it was in with the bargin juice from Mexico. Next to the pineapple/strawberry and mango juice.

: )
lyra

thanks lyra - I will have to check for that~hadn't thought to look there.

I bought a block of tamarind paste at my neighborhood Indonesian market, but instead of discarding the seed, I planted it, and it grew into a small tree that looked somewhat like a jacaranda. I recommend planting the seeds instead of discarding them - they are easy to grow. They will eventually make huge trees, however. The last tamarind paste/sauce I bought was at an Indian market, and it was in a much larger container.

I make a sauce similar to Joe's but without the honey, and if I'm making a Thai or Indonesian dish, I use fish sauce instead of soy, or both. I've been adding tamarind sauce to refried rice for a Thai or Indonesian effect, along with mushrooms, green onions, garlic, ginger, and sometimes unsalted peanuts at the end. Sometimes I also add fresh basil.

When using tamarind paste, I put it through a food mill after soaking to remove the skin and seeds.

Lars

thank you Lars - I like your suggestion of fish sauce.

Fenworth, thanks for the tip - I'll be sure to check out Whole Foods.

Publickman - If Whole Foods doesn't have it, an Indian grocery is next on my list. Thanks to both of you.
Hester