Friday, May 21, 2010

Tamarind Cocktail

It's the weekend, and temperatures are rising. This is a refreshing cooler that will hit the spot. I love tamarind, and really enjoy tamarind nectar. I found some tamarind, and blackberry pulp in the freezer section at Winn-Dixie and snatched it up. I already have guava, guanabana, mango, papaya and passion fruit (parcha) . I love having these in my freezer, they are perfect for making sorbet, smoothies, and drinks. They are handy to have on hand, and store very compact. I think I am going to try to see if I can make some tamarind ice cream....hmm... it could work!

My daughter loves to make herself a smoothie anytime she wants. We have a Magic Bullet and this is a quick and easy way to make a drink for yourself and a different one for someone else. She usually adds some of the fruit pulp, mango juice, some ice cubes and milk or cream, and whizzzz.

I love the tang of tamarind so I decided to whip up a cocktail using the pulp. In the bullet blender dump ingredients and blend....I used sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar. After seeing Megan do this Vietnamese Iced Coffee drink on her blog Megan's Cookin' I have been using sweetened condensed milk in more blender drinks. I didn't have any rum, but I had some vodka that I have been flavoring with vanilla beans so I used that instead.
Now this is difficult, because I just dumped, but I'll try to break it down for you:
3 oz tamarind pulp
1.5 oz vodka or rum
3 T sweetened condensed milk (or to taste)
4 oz tamarind nectar (or ginger ale)
5 oz ice
As always the ingredients are adjustable to your liking. You can make it as thick as you like, or as strong.
Mine was just right....mmmm....enjoy!

Thanks to the suggestion by Ann from Anncoo's Hobby I am submitting this recipe to the 5 Star Makeover, that is brought to us by Natasha at 5 Star Foodie Culinary Adventures.


25 comments:

  1. Wow! This is a very unique Cocktail... Bookmarked it !

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  2. I have never thought of using tamarind for cocktail..it must be so refreshing on a warm day!

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  3. I usually add tamarind in savory and spicy food/dishes....never tried them in a cocktail like this.

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  4. Oh Lindsey, I love this especially with the tamarind pulp~very refreshing!
    Why don't you submit this to the
    5 Star Makeover Challenge - Smoothies & Shakes
    at Five Star Foodie.

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  5. Hm..mm... this sounds perfect for me right at this moment. A little sleepy here! 3.30pm, feel like wanted to take a nap and have a good rest! Hope you'll have a great weekend!
    Cheers, Kristy

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  6. I love tamirand. Its widely used in indian food. I've never seen it as a drink before though, I bet its incredibly refreshing.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    *kisses* HH

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  7. wow, very interesting. I've never tried tamarind drinks before. And I like the idea of sweetening with condensed milk!

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  8. Perfect for this sizzling weather we've been having! Have a great weekend :-)

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  9. This couldn't of come at a better time! I have a package of tamarind in my fridge leftover from making pad thai. And it sounds heavenly with condensed milk!

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  10. I had never any cocktail with tamarind....sounds so irresistible and I can't wait to try some soon!

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  11. I admit that I have never eaten tamarind before. The smoothie looks so good sitting next to the pool - I am insanely jealous.

    Temperatures are rising here too, so I may have to do some smoothies.

    BTW, I have been searching for a recipe to use the guava paste that you so kindly sent me, but I haven't found anything. What can I use it in?

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  12. This sounds like a great tangy summer drink, especially with rum. A little different and refreshing. I have to ask, how do you like the book?

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  13. Lyndsey we love smoothies too and the kids of course! this look awesome I love blackberries! nice photos! and nice book! gloria

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  14. I think I need to get a Magic Bullet. Looks like the perfect drink by the pool.

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  15. Rachana Kothari, I hope you get a chance to make it.

    3HT, it is refreshing.

    Tigerfish, I've always liked it in drinks, I think its the sweet-tart taste it has.

    Anncoo, thanks to you, I did submit it to the 5 Star Smoothie Makeover Challenge!

    Kristy, I hope you rested well. This just might relax you too much :D

    HH, it's great in as a drink!

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  16. pigpigscorner, yes the condensed milk worked great in it.

    Martha, thanks, I'll make one for you when you come over sometime!

    Cinnamon-Girl, oh good! Let me know what you think.

    Thanks Pru, We can get the tamarind pods in our grocery store, but the frozen pulp is so much easier. You might be able to find some in you Asian market, it comes in many forms. In a paste or concentrate in a tin. Usually they use it in savory cooking.
    You can check out my "guava paste" labels here on my site for a couple ideas what to do with the Guava, and I will soon be posting guava cheese turnovers.

    Pam, yes I need to try it with rum. The book is good, takes place in France on a champagne winery. I'm learning a lot too.

    Thanks Gloria, It means a lot coming from you, your photos are always spectacular! I'm going to try the blackberries with banana nectar blended with ice cubes...we'll see what else when we try it.

    Barbara, the magic bullet has paid for itself, we never have to go to Starbucks for a cold blended coffee, or buy any smoothie. It has other attachments too, for whip cream, or grinding spices, coffee etc...

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  17. I have to admit, I've never tasted tamarind. (there was such a romantic movie years ago called The Tamarind Tree...with Julie Andrews and Omar Shariff)
    But anything with rum AND sweetened condensed milk has just GOT to be fabulous!

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  18. I love tamarind and this cocktail is definitely on my to make list!!! thanks for sharing.

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  19. I've never tasted tamarind and have wanted to. I don't think it's available around here unfortunately.

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  20. love the combination....I use the same goya fruit pulp for my juices.....Two of my favorite flavors!

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  21. totally cool and tropical cocktail, must try this!

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  22. I use tamarind in my cooking but never in a drink. I would love to try this. Looks refreshing.

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  23. What a fabulous smoothie! I'm going to look for tamarind pulp to try this! Love the rum addition!

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  24. I always drink tamarind margaritas...I'll have to try this.

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