Tamarind/Tamarind Water

Tamarind is a long brown tropical seed pod whose sweet-sour pulp tastes like pureed prunes mixed with lime juice. Tamarind is a flavoring in Worcestershire sauce and in A-1 steak sauce. It is a staple in the Caribbean, India, and Southeast Asia, and it’s finally becoming known in this country. If you live in a city with a large Hispanic or Asian population, you may be able to find fresh tamarind pods. Asian and Indian markets often sell sticky balls of peeled tamarind pulp. Tamarind puree (also known as tamarind water) can be found frozen at Hispanic markets.