C – This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurant drinks.
I always buy it when it’s offered at a restaurant. I end up drinking it really quickly and feeling so sad that I finished before my meal even arrives. I love it when I find a restaurant that allows free refills.
I usually know I will be coming back … just because of this drink.
Tamarind water has a unique, tart flavor. Sugar is added to balance the tartness. The recipe is simple: just dried tamarind pods, sugar and water. Remove the shells and add the pods to boiling water. Simmer for 30 minutes, strain and mash the pulp to get all the liquid out. Add sugar and you’re done.
If you have never bought tamarind pods before, they sell them at the Mexican grocery store. Sometimes, you can find them in regular grocery stores. They can be found in the produce isle.
If your find them refrigerated, don’t by them. They are more prone to having mold inside.
Buy ones that are completely closed and not cracked, so they are not dried out. They are usually easy to crack, if they are new. If they have been in the store for awhile, they might be dried out and harder to crack.
I am so glad I made this drink. It’s as delicious as I remember and I can actually adjust the sugar. Sometimes, they make it too sweet and I can’t drink it.
| Mexican Week 2015: Agua De Tamarindo (Tamarind Water) |
- 1½ pounds dried tart tamarind
- 1 gallon water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 lime
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- Remove and discard the hard outer pods of the dried tamarind. In a large saucepan, combine the water with the dried tamarind and bring it to a boil.
- Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes or until the tamarind flesh is very soft. You can help the process by mashing the tamarind with a whisk to break up the flesh and separate the seeds.
- Strain the liquid and discard the solids. Add the sugar to the liquid and stir until dissolved. Let it cool to room temperature.
- To serve, dip the rim of each glass in lime juice and then in chili powder.
- Fill each glass with lots of ice and then add the tamarind water.
- Enjoy!
This one was perfect with lots of ice. I drank a lot. But, be careful not to drink too much of this delicious drink. It acts like a mild laxative. Everything in moderation is a good thing.
If you are looking for a great authentic Mexican drink, this is a great one. It’s also a must try in my book.
Adapted from: http://thelatinkitchen.com/r/recipe/agua-de-tamarindo-tamarind-water