Tamarind Pulp

Tamarind grows on tropical trees, is shaped like a bean (except that it is longer and wider) and the main ‘fruit’ is the pulp inside the brittle shell. Imli is dried before it is sold and, before use, it is soaked in lukewarm water until soft—usually 25 to 30 minutes. It is squeezed until it dissolves in the water at which stage the seeds and fibres are strained out.