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Chutney and achaar have been made in India since 500 BC, and it's no wonder that people started making chutneys with tamarind pulp as well. Tamarind chutney is used to enhance the flavour of a lot of snacks and dishes in India, such as golgappe, dahi bhalle, and sambhar and is often consumed with samosas, kachoris and pakoras to add a unique twist of flavours.
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Tamarind chutney is generally a composition of tamarind as well as other ingredients like jaggery, cardamon, and some sauf to give it a multilayered flavour. Historically, tamarind was brought to India from Africa as it is not native to India. After being introduced to India through spice trading, it became a very important part of South Indian cuisine.
Here is a look at five unique tamarind chutney recipes from different parts of India that are a must-try for all tamarind lovers.
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* Mint Tamarind Chutney
Mint is a very fresh ingredient that adds a rejuvenating flavour to the tangy tamarind pulp. This flavourful chutney is made by using tamarind pulp, garlic cloves, mint leaves, green chillies, and salt as per preference. All these ingredients are blended in a blender until one gets a smooth and thick consistency. Now, to give it some sweet flavour, one can add jaggery, cumin powder, and some black salt that has been melted and well-cooked in a saucepan beforehand. Tamarind chutney with flavours of mint is just what one needs on days when one wants to eat something fresh yet tasty.
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* Pineapple Tamarind Chutney
Pineapple tamarind chutney is a tropical extravaganza that is a delightful addition to regular snacks and dishes. The process of making this delicious chutney is not at all elaborate, and it can be made simply by taking some fresh pineapple pieces and mixing them with tamarind pulp in a blender. Now, the pulp has to be transferred to a saucepan, where one has to add some roasted cumin powder. The texture of this chutney is quite thick, and it also has a very long shelf life so one can store it in the refrigerator. This flavourful chutney is very famous in the Southern part of India and is often consumed with fritters and other deep-fried snacks.
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* Date And Tamarind Chutney
There is no better way to make one's chaat more appetising than adding some date and tamarind chutney. Date and tamarind are the perfect partners to make the most scrumptious chutney that can instantly make a chaat taste so much better. To make this chutney at home, one has to soak some dates beforehand until they become properly soft. Now, these dates have to be blended with some tamarind pulp to make a very smooth paste. The whole mixture has to be poured in a saucepan, and then one has to add some jaggery and water. The final touch is to add a cup of spices, including red chilli powder, salt and human powder. This chutney has a medium-thick consistency. So, one must heat the mixture on a low flame until the desired consistency is attained.
* Spicy Tamarind Chutney
The spicy tamarind chutney is perfect for people who like the combination of tangy and spicy flavours. This chutney also has a very evident flavour of ginger and garlic that are blended with the tamarind pulp in the initial stages of the chutney preparation. To make it more flavourful, one can add some curry leaves and dried red chillies for extra spice and freshness. To balance the flavours of too many ingredients, adding some jaggery can be a great idea as it stabilises the flavours of all the spices that have been added to the tamarind pulp. The spicy tamarind chutney has a thick consistency, and it must be stored in an airtight jar. The chutney can be paired with different types of dishes like dosa and idli.
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* Traditional Tamarind Chutney
Last but not least is the quintessential tamarind chutney recipe that a lot of people are already acquainted with. It is a simple or no-fuss recipe that is made by soaking the tamarind pulp in water for 30 minutes to make it soft. Once the pulp is soft, all the seeds must be removed, and the pulp should be transferred in a saucepan. In the saucepan, one can add some salt, jaggery, roasted cumin powder, red chilli powder, and some water to adjust its consistency. The mixture must be heated and stirred until it gets a thick consistency. The dish has perfect hints of sweetness and tanginess and can be paired with different types of Indian snacks.
