Indian Tamarind Concentrate Cooler Recipe

There’s nothing like sipping on a cool and refreshing drink on a warm summer afternoon, and this Indian-style tamarind concentrate cooler is just that and more! This drink is surprisingly easy to make and you can prep it in advance! Plus, it is actually super healthy too!

What Do I Need For this Tamarind Concentrate Cooler?

1. Fresh tamarind paste: 1 tbsp
2. Black Salt: As per taste
3. Roasted cumin powder: 1 tsp
4. Ice cubes: As required
5. Drinking soda or plain water: For the topping
6. Pomegranate: For garnish
7. Mint sprig: For garnish

How Do I Make it?

1. In a non-stick pan, add 3 cups of water. Add the tamarind paste and let it boil for about 5 minutes. 
2. Once done, let the liquid mixture cool down to room temperature. 
3. Once it has cooled down, add the roasted cumin powder and black salt. 
4. For assembly, take a glass and fill it with ice cubes. Next, pour the tamarind cooler. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and mint leaves before serving. 

How is This a Healthy Drink?

This tamarind concentrate cooler is actually not just a refreshing drink but is super healthy too. This tropical fruit, which is what takes up a major portion of the ingredients list for this recipe, packs in a ton of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

It is also an excellent natural source of polyphenols, which help promote weight loss and reduce the risk of peptic ulcers. Some experts also claim that tamarind could help keep blood glucose levels in check. Plus, it has long been touted as a natural laxative, and is great for your stomach, especially during the hot summer months. 

In this drink, the tamarind pulp is paired with roasted cumin seeds, which are again, great for your digestive system. 

What Else Can I Use it For?

Since tamarind is such a versatile ingredient when it comes to cooking Indian foods, you can use the base of this tamarind cooler in so many different ways.

You can reduce the tamarind base and thicken it to use it as a tangy marinade for your meat dishes.

A few spoonfuls of this tamarind concentrate can also be an excellent way to add some flavor and oomph to your basic homemade curry.

You can also use the thickened tamarind concentrate as a chutney or a dip for your snacks and starters.

How Can I Make the Fresh Tamarind Paste?

Most grocery stores and supermarkets have tamarind paste, but if you're someone who loves scratch-made, you can actually make this paste on your own. It is pretty easy and needs just a few minutes of kitchen time.

To start, you'll obviously need some tamarind. Raw tamarind often has the shell, seeds, and some strings that need to be removed. If you're unable to remove these parts manually, just focus on removing the seeds so that they don't end up getting stuck in your food processor.

Clean it up, soak it in some hot water for around 30-40 minutes, and then blitz it along with the water in a food processor.

Then, all you need to do is strain the pulp and the juice through a sieve so that all the extra inedible bits and pieces of the tamarind are left out. That's it!

Interesting Variations to Try Out

There's actually a lot of different variations to this simple recipe that you can try out, depending on your taste buds! Here are some ideas to get you going. 

• Add a little orange juice or fresh lime juice into the mixture to lend it a more intense depth of flavor. 
• You can also add some crushed mint leaves into the mixture to lend it that element of freshness. 
• If you don't mind a little heat, add in a sprinkle of red chili powder to take the flavors of this summer drink up a notch. 
• If you prefer a bit of sweetness in your drink, you can add a little jaggery while preparing the tamarind pulp base. This is actually highly recommended because the sweetness of the jaggery can add a nice balance of flavor to the tanginess and sourness of the tamarind.
• To get a more earthy taste to your drink, add in a dash of ginger while preparing the tamarind pulp water. 
• If you're preparing this tamarind drink for a crowd, you can make it more elegant looking by garnishing it with some roasted peanuts or toasted coconut flakes.
• Another cool idea is to dip the rim of your serving glasses in some lemon juice and then dip it in a mixture of ground and roasted cumin seeds, black salt, and pepper and then pour your tamarind drink into it!

Can I Make & Store it For Later?

Totally! You can prepare the tamarind mixture in advance and then refrigerate or freeze it for later. Then, when you want to serve it, all you need to do is add in your favorite serving accompaniments, and you're done! 

Remember to first allow the tamarind liquid to first cool down completely before bottling it up (ideally in a clear glass bottle) and then refrigerating it. 

You can also make the thick mixture of the tamarind pulp, pour it into ice cubes trays and freeze it for later when you want to make a quick refreshing drink.

And guess what? This mixture can actually double up as a base for marinades and rubs as well, especially if you're in the mood to grill and experiment with some tangy flavors for your proteins. 

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

This fizzy drink can be paired with literally any dish, or even enjoyed as is as something to sip on to beat the heat. It tastes best when served with an Indian-style lunch. 

• Team it up with some chicken kofta korma and naan bread or steamed Basmati rice. 
• The tangy flavor of this tamarind cooler pairs up nicely with the rustic and subtle taste of a basic palak paneer. 
• You can also serve this drink with some Indian-style papdi chaat and make it a fun evening snack!