Tangy Tamarind - The Flavors of Southeast Asia!

Tamarind has long played a second fiddle to other ingredients in cooking, but now chefs and bartenders are embracing this knobbly fruit-forward ingredient. Look for it to spice up a chili bowl or balance out a bold spirit!

You can find tamarind concentrate and paste in jars or pressed blocks at Indian, Latin, and Southeast Asian markets. Dried pods are also available, but they need to be soaked before using (and can contain seeds and fibers).

Sweet & Sour

Tamarind is a remarkable ingredient, with both sweet and sour flavors. Its pulp can be used in savory recipes (like marinades for meat or vegetarian curries) and sweet dishes (it's the base of tamarind chutneys, Mexican agua fresca, and Jarritos), as well as beverages like caipirinhas and cocktails.

Whole tamarind pods are available at some major supermarkets and Asian or Indian grocers. Younger pods are sour, and as they ripen the fruit becomes sweeter. You can also purchase the fruit in a paste or concentrate, which is made by boiling peeled pods and squeezing out the resulting pulp. The pulp is also found in cellophane-wrapped blocks that are medium to dark brown or even black in color due to oxidation.

Aside from its culinary use, tamarind is valued as a medicinal plant in many parts of the world for its anti-inflammatory properties. Its juice, which has a prune-like scent, is an excellent natural antacid.

Spicy & Sour

Tamarind is an astringent, which means it can be used to make things sour. But it also has an intense fruity flavor that can give a kick to any dish. That's why so many easy Asian recipes call for it.

Tamarind comes from curved brown pods that contain sticky pulp wrapped around one to ten seeds. The pods can be eaten raw or cooked, but the most common form is tamarind paste, concentrate or extract, which can be bought from stores and made at home by boiling a mixture of water and sugar to soften the fruit, then removing the fibers and seeds before squeezing out the dark liquid.

When added too much to a dish, tamarind can quickly become extremely sour. Although sweeteners often get recommended to counter this extreme sourness, sweet doesn't automatically balance out the intense acidity of the fruit. One solution is to add salt, but be careful not to overdo it because of the negative health effects of excess sodium.

A less obvious, but equally effective, way to cut the sourness of a recipe is to add potatoes. The natural starch of the vegetable will absorb some of the acidity and mask the unpleasantness of an over-zealous tamarind addition.

Salty & Sour

Whether it’s adding a sour kick to a salad dressing, enhancing the flavors of a seafood dish or the underrated ingredient that gives pad Thai its funky taste, tamarind is the key to making your Southeast Asian dishes pop. Tamarind is the knotty fruit of a tree native to Africa that grows beanlike pods with seeds enveloped in sticky pulp. It can be found in a variety of forms at your local grocery store, including raw pods, purees, pressed blocks or concentrate.

While every nation in the region adds a unique flair to their cuisine, there is a common thread that runs through all the meals—each dish should be harmoniously balanced with textures, temperatures and the four tastes: sweet, salty, sour and bitter. Tamarind is a powerful addition to this culinary ideal, as it helps to balance the spiciness of many dishes and also cuts through fats in meats and oils.

For example, contemporary Indian restaurant Plaa in Central New York City offers up a refreshing summer drink called the Kerala Sunset, which is made with brandy, fresh fig, peach and tamarind juice. The tamarind brings a distinct flavor to the cocktail that makes it stand out from other cocktails with similar ingredients. Aside from its deliciously sharp acidity, tamarind is also nutritious. The nutrient-rich fruit and its juice are known to reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, fight high cholesterol levels and boost energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What herb is best for healing?

Herbs are a fantastic way to help heal our bodies. Herbal medicine has been used since ancient times and continues to grow today. There are thousands of herbs known to cure various ailments.

Some herbs are excellent for treating colds and flu, while others can treat anxiety, depression, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and more.

There are also herbal remedies for skin care, hair loss, weight loss, sexual health, energy, sleep, digestion, and much more.

The list goes on and on. But one herb stands above them all regarding its ability to heal. That herb is called aloe vera.

Aloe Vera is considered to be the world's most powerful healer. For centuries it has helped people heal themselves naturally without any side effects.

It's incredible how well aloe vera works. It's even better than prescription drugs and surgery.

In addition to its natural healing properties, aloe vera is highly versatile and can be used in almost any area of life, including food, beauty products, and household cleaning supplies.

You may not realize this, but aloe vera contains hundreds of active compounds, which include vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, sulfur, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, fluoride, iodine, selenium and more.

These nutrients are essential for human body functions such as cell growth, metabolism, immune system support, healthy bones and teeth, healthy blood pressure levels, healthy eyesight, healthy cardiovascular systems, healthy digestive systems, healthy lungs, healthy nervous system, healthy reproductive organs, healthy skin, and healthy libido.

What herbs should you take daily?

Depending on your health and wellness needs, many herbs can be taken daily to help improve your overall health.

Popular herbs for daily consumption include ashwagandha, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, chamomile, lavender, peppermint, and cayenne pepper. Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that can help the body resist stress and anxiety. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, while ginger has been shown to aid digestion and boost immunity. Holy basil may help with managing blood sugar levels, as well as providing a calming effect. Chamomile can promote relaxation, while lavender is used in aromatherapy for its calming properties. Peppermint can help aid digestion and reduce nausea, while cayenne pepper has antibacterial properties that may boost your immunity.

As always, you must consult your doctor before taking herbs daily to ensure they are safe for you and do not interact with any other medications or herbs you may be taking.

There is no shortage of information on what foods we should eat and how much exercise we should do. But when it comes to what supplements we should take, there is a dearth of knowledge.

This is because most of us aren’t sure which ones work or which are junk. So we go online and look up whatever we can find.

But often, these articles are written by companies trying to promote their products. Which means they're usually biased toward their product.

So instead of finding unbiased advice, we end up reading marketing hype.

This makes sense since marketers make more money selling stuff than doctors.

The medical industry isn’t even allowed to advertise directly to consumers anymore. The best way to learn about natural remedies is to read independent reviews.

This is where you'll find real users sharing their experiences with each supplement. These sites give you an honest opinion of whether or not a particular herb helps.

Users will often share their experience with a supplement after taking it. This gives you a good idea of its effectiveness and any side effects.

You can also check out forums dedicated to herbalism. Here you can ask questions and receive answers based on personal experience.

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to learn about herbs.

There are books, websites, blogs, videos, podcasts, and classes. All of them provide valuable information about natural remedies.

What is the difference between basil and oregano?

Both of these herbs belong to the Lamiaceae family. They share similar flavors, but the differences are obvious.

Oregano is more pungent than basil. It also adds an extra layer of flavor to foods.

Basil leaves are smaller than oregano leaves. They are also softer and less aromatic.

The two herbs are often used interchangeably. Although they are quite similar, each has its distinctive qualities.

Statistics

• For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplementation appears to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10-15% (72Trusted Source73Trusted (healthline.com)
• Studies have shown that cinnamon can lower fasting blood sugars by 10-29% in diabetic patients, which is a significant amount (9Trusted Source10Trusted (healthline.com)

External Links

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• Amazon.com: Starwest Botanicals Organic Bilberries Whole, 4 Ounces: Grocery & Gourmet Food

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• Health Benefits of Culinary Herbs and Spices - PubMed


• Use of echinacea in medicine - PubMed

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• Peppermint oil (Mintoil®) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial


• Curcumin reverses the effects of chronic stress on behavior, the HPA axis, BDNF expression, and phosphorylation of CREB

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• Antioxidant capacity of 26 spice extracts and characterization of their phenolic constituents - PubMed


• Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant - PMC

How To

What to look for in herbs?

Herbs contain natural compounds that may help treat various conditions. In addition, herbal remedies may provide relief when used along with conventional treatments.

Herbal remedies include teas, capsules, tablets, ointments, creams, lotions, oils, and topical applications. Some of these products are meant to be taken internally, while others are applied externally.

The most common uses of herbal remedies include relieving minor aches and pains, treating cold symptoms, reducing fever, controlling coughs and sore throats, easing digestion problems, soothing skin irritations, alleviating menstrual cramps, and providing general health benefits.

When buying herbs, look for the following:

• Freshly picked plants. Avoid dried herbs unless they've been stored in a cool place. If possible, buy herbs directly from farmers' markets.
• Pure extracts. These are made by extracting the active ingredients from herbs using alcohol or water. Look for 100% pure extractions.
• Certified organic herbs. Organic herbs must meet strict standards set forth by the USDA.
• Natural flavors. Many herbs have strong scents that can overwhelm other foods. Adding flavorings such as vanilla, almond, or orange helps mask their smell.
• Potency. The amount of active ingredient per unit weight varies depending on the type of herb.
• Packaging. When purchasing herbs, check the packaging to ensure that it's clean and free of chemicals.

Resources:

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