Homemade Tamarind Juice (Jugo de Tamarindo) 🍹🧡
135kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb Tamarind pods fresh, in their shells
- 8 cups Water divided
- 1 cups Sugar granulated or cane sugar, adjust to taste
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract optional, for a Dominican touch
- Ice Plenty, for serving
Method
- Shell the Tamarind: Remove the hard outer brown shells and the fibrous strings from each tamarind pod.
- Boil & Soften: Place the peeled tamarind in a pot with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until the fruit is soft.
- Soak: Turn off the heat and let it sit for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to fully soften the pulp.
- Extract Pulp: Using clean hands or a potato masher, mash the pods in the water to separate the seeds and membranes from the pulp.
- Strain: Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Use a spoon to press as much pulp as possible through the mesh.
- Dilute & Sweeten: Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water and the sugar. Stir vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add vanilla if using.
- Serve: Taste and adjust sweetness if needed. Serve in tall glasses over plenty of ice.
Nutrition
Serving1cupCalories135kcalCarbohydrates35gProtein1gFat0.2gCholesterol35mgSodium10mgPotassium310mgFiber2.5gSugar30gVitamin A15IUVitamin C4mgCalcium35mgIron0.6mg
Notes
- Cheat Code: If you are in a rush, you can buy frozen tamarind pulp (sin semilla) at the Latin grocery store. Just blend it with water and sugar!
- Natural Tartness: Tamarind is naturally very sour. If it's too tart for you, just add a little more water and another spoonful of sugar.
- Storage: This juice lasts up to 5 days in the fridge. Give it a good stir before serving as the pulp tends to settle at the bottom.