What to do with leftover tamarind paste

delicious. team

Written by the expert and completely food-obsessed team behind this website, our social channels and our monthly magazine.

Find more

Tamarind paste is very sour and citrusy with hints of smoke and caramel, which make for a complex flavour profile used for both sweet and savoury dishes throughout the world.

It’s also a key ingredient in Worcestershire sauce, contributing to its distinct tang. See below for a fabulous selection of recipes to use up that leftover pot.

Recipes with tamarind paste

Indian

Middle Eastern

Lentils and pasta with tamarind, sumac and pomegranate

Asian

Inspired dishes

use up leftover tamarind paste

How to use up leftover tamarind paste

Whiskey sour
Shake 50ml bourbon, the juice of ½ lime, ½ tbsp tamarind paste and 25ml sugar syrup with ice, then pour into a chilled glass.
Barbecue sauce with a kick
Using this recipe, add 2 tbsp tamarind paste to the mixture before cooking for extra tanginess.
Asian-style dressing
Mix 3 tbsp tamarind paste with 3 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tsp fish sauce, 1 tsp soy sauce, the juice of ½ lime and 1 tbsp honey. Use to marinate meat or fish, or drizzle over Asian salads.
Date and tamarind cake
Try adding 2 tbsp tamarind paste to this cake to add a little bit of tang.
Carrot cake with a twist
You’ll be surprised at what 2 tbsp of tamarind paste add to this