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Tamarind Date Sauce (Imli Chutney) – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Tamarind Date Sauce (Imli Chutney)

This recipe for Tamarind Date Sauce (Imli Chutney) perfectly balances the puckering tartness of tamarind with the deep, caramel sweetness of dates, spiced with a hint of ginger and garam masala. It's a versatile, easy-to-make dipping sauce that elevates Indian snacks like samosas
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Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 41
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup (185 mL) boiling water
  • 3/4 cup (185 mL) chopped pitted dates
  • 3 tablespoons (45 mL / 1.5 fl oz) tamarind pulp
  • 2 tablespoons (30 mL / 1 fl oz) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15 mL / 0.5 fl oz) minced fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons (10 mL / 0.3 fl oz) orange juice concentrate
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2 mL / 0.1 fl oz) garam masala
  • Pinch of salt
  • For a thinner sauce, add a tablespoon of warm water at a time while blending until you reach your desired consistency.
  • For an ultra-smooth, silky texture, pass the blended sauce through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any fibrous bits from the dates or tamarind.
  • Store the sauce in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator. The flavors will meld and deepen after a day or two, and it will keep for several weeks.

Method
 

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the chopped dates and tamarind pulp.
  2. Pour the boiling water over them and let the mixture soak for 30 minutes to soften.
  3. After soaking, carefully check the tamarind for any seeds and discard them.
  4. Transfer the entire mixture, including the soaking water, to a food processor or high-speed blender.
  5. Add the apple cider vinegar, minced ginger, orange juice concentrate, garam masala, and salt to the blender.
  6. Blend on high until the sauce is completely smooth. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times to ensure everything is well combined.
  7. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
  8. Add a little jaggery or maple syrup for more sweetness, or a squeeze of lime juice for extra tang.

Nutrition

Calories: 41kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.1g

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