Thai cuisine is probably one of the most underrated cuisine varieties in the world. Known better for it’s contribution of sweet chilli sauce to the world, Thai cuisine features some incredible recipes such as Thai beef salad, green curry and pad Thai. Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle recipe that includes chicken, peanuts, chilli, bean sprouts and tamarind. Tamarind is hailed as the key to pad Thai giving it a unique tang. Tamarind is however not easy to find outside of Asian speciality ingredient stores. So if you wanted to substitute tamarind in your pad Thai what options are available to you? Well, first let us understand what exactly tamarind is.
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Tamarind Paste
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is a leguminous tree that is native to tropical Africa. Tamarind seeds grow in a pod, like beans and other pulses. The seeds grow in large seed pods and are harvested to make tamarind paste. The seeds are removed and the remaining pulp is used. It is soaked in hot water then blended to make the tamarind paste we use. It has a sour flavour and tart though you can find tamarind paste that is made with sweet ingredients like brown sugar which balances out the taste. It is mainly used in savoury recipes though you can find the paste employed in desserts. So if you want to substitute tamarind paste in pad Thai what are the options?
Homemade Substitute
If your problem is with the availability of tamarind paste you can make this homemade substitute sauce from things that are much easier to find. You will need to put together 2 tablespoons water, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, half a cup of tomato paste, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. It’s best to use freshly squeezed lemon juice as opposed to the bottled variety. If you can’t get your hands on lemon juice, lime juice and apple cider vinegar make good alternatives for this mix.
Pomegranate Molasses
Another good tamarind paste substitute in pad Thai if you are looking for a flavour match is pomegranate molasses. It is a thick, dark sauce that is made by reducing pomegranate sauce. It has a sweet and sour flavour similar to sweetened tamarind paste varieties and is widely available. This sweet and sour flavour makes it a suitable substitute in Asian recipes which usually play on the contrast and pad Thai is no exception. So if you make your pad Thai with sweetened tamarind paste or are a fan of the sweet and sour flavour combination pomegranate molasses will make a good tamarind paste substitute for you. Use this molasses in equal quantities as tamarind paste.
Fruit Combination
Another option you have to replace tamarind paste in pad Thai is a fruit combination. For best results, you should combine equal measures of prunes, dates, apricots and lemon juice with half a measure of water. Allow the mixture to sit for around 20 – 30 minutes. Once the fruits have soaked the water and lemon juice you can place the mixture in a blender to arrive at a paste. You can use this combination as a direct substitute for tamarind paste in pad Thai using the same amount as you would tamarind paste.
Lime Juice And Brown Sugar
A simpler substitute for tamarind paste in pad Thai is the combination of lime juice and brown sugar. The lime juice will cater for the tart flavour of tamarind paste while the brown sugar balances out the flavour. Take it a step further and use old fashioned brown sugar which you may find under the name molasses sugar. This will provide you with a very easy to find and assemble a substitute for tamarind paste. You will need to mix equal quantities of lime juice and brown sugar. Once the paste is mixed together you can use an equal amount of this paste as you would tamarind paste. Unfortunately, this will not give you the same flavour as tamarind paste.
Rice Vinegar Or White Wine
Another substitute for tamarind paste in pad Thai, though not quite perfect is rice (white) vinegar or white wine. On the upside, these are things you will probably have lying around in your pantry and at worst can buy at a convenience store. You will need to mix the wine or vinegar with brown sugar to achieve the sweet and sour combination that sweetened versions of tamarind paste possess. Be careful with your choice of vinegar as cheaper versions tend to be very bitter and the balance may not be achieved. Use the same amount of the mixture as you would tamarind paste.
Marmalade
This substitute for tamarind paste in your pad Thai will not give you the closest flavour match but if you use the right marmalade you will certainly get an interesting flavour. The strong citrus flavour combined with another Thai favourite ingredient, ginger, will bring a world of difference in a welcome surprise to your pad Thai. Orange, lemon, ginger and other combination marmalades should do the trick. Use the same amount of marmalade as you would tamarind paste for best results.
Amchur Powder
Amchur powder is made from drying and powdering unripe mangoes and it could work as a substitute for tamarind paste in pad Thai. It will give you a combination of fruity, acidic and sour flavours which are all found in tamarind paste. Mix equal parts water and amchur powder to create a paste before adding to your pad Thai.
Tamarind Pulp
If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a retailer who has tamarind pulp you could make your very own tamarind paste. If you can get the pulp with seeds removed else you will have to remove the seeds yourself. This is not a difficult task but you have the option of avoiding it. All you need is 2 tablespoons tamarind pulp and half a cup of warm water. Allow the pulp to soak until it becomes soft then gently rub the pulp in your hands. If your pulp has seeds this is the point you will remove them. Once the pulp starts to look like paste you can drain any excess water and use in your pad Thai.
Whether you want a bit of different flavour, a direct substitute or just something you can easily get your hands on you have a few options for tamarind substitutes in pad Thai.