Tamarind Chicken Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Grill/Barbecue

by: Summer of Eggplant

May6,2013

3.6

7 Ratings

  • Serves 4

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

We eat a lot of chicken, a lot. I am constantly looking for new ways to reinvent the wheel. This one is a take on southeast Asian cuisine. It is by no means is intended to be authentic -- I just follow the mantra of hot, sour, salty, sweet. —Summer of Eggplant

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Summer of Eggplant is a lighting designer who lives in Atlanta.
WHAT: A hot-sour-salty-sweet chicken dish that grills up in minutes.
HOW: Marinate your chicken in tamarind pulp, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime zest, sugar, and spices. Then, 4 to 6 hours later, grill it up!
WHY WE LOVE IT: We love how easy this dish is to prep -- if you can put ingredients into a bag, then you can make this dish. When it's too cold to grill, we use a grill pan and then finish it in the oven -- feel free to do the same. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 4 leg quarters
  • 3/4 cuptamarind cooking pulp
  • 1/4 cuplow sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoonsfish sauce
  • 2 1/2 tablespoonslight brown sugar
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, sliced
  • 1 lime, zested
  • 2 teaspoonsred pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoonsChinese five spice (I use Reims from La Boîte Epice)
Directions
  1. Place the ingredients in a large Ziploc or seal-able bowl. Mix until combined, add chicken, and marinate for 4 to 6 hours. Rotate the chicken in the marinade every so often.
  2. Set up the grill for direct/indirect heat. We do this by making a semi circle of charcoal. You'll know when the grill is hot but not too hot when you can count to 3 with your hand over the fire.
  3. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Sear the chicken skin side down for about 4 to 5 minutes until crispy. You may pour the excess marinade over the legs at this point. Turn the legs over and cook skin side up for another 2 minutes over the high heat, then move them to the cooler side of the grill, but still near the coals for indirect heat, put the grill lid on and cook for about 25 minutes. They are done when the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

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36 Reviews

Really enjoyed this recipe! I had tamarind concentrate so I just put a good dollop in and then the rest of the ingredients as listed. I served with basmati rice (with saffron and olive oil) and grilled radicchio. Will make this again!

Sarah O. March 10, 2021

Just made this and it was really, really good. Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great! Made it with some potatoes on the side https://www.kitchenful.com/lp/recipe/Potato-Casserole-1727/522 . Highly recommend!

Florence B. February 15, 2021

It was easy, quick and delicious. Even my picky grandchildren gobbled it down!

Amy T. June 7, 2017

I just made this and it is hands down the best chicken i have ever eaten.

Summer O. June 7, 2017

Hope I can make it out the front door tomorrow with my swelled head! :) Glad you enjoyed it.

Sian D. December 5, 2016

Thanks, I made this to go in a salad (inspired by a restaurant menu item: tamarind chicken; spiced pumpkin; grilled peach; cumin yoghurt, coriander) and it was Really Great.

Jacquie July 5, 2016

Thanks for this recipe. I have a tree and harvested for the first time this year. Made paste with pods and dates.

girlwithaknife March 4, 2016

3/4 cup of tamarind sounds like a lot. I have a little jar of tamarind paste I got from Whole Foods. Anyone know how much of that to use?

SusanKP May 30, 2018

I'm curious about the conversion from pulp to paste too.

Tom B. November 29, 2015

I'm new to cooking with tamarind and so looking forward to trying this recipe. I live in rural Haiti where we pick it off the tree and suck on the seeds. Done this for years. Never thought to try cooking with it. Now I just have to wait for the right season! (or more likely, wait 'til we get stateside) .This looks incredible.

ojailyn February 27, 2015

I really enjoyed this chicken..I used drum sticks...I will make in future....however, next time I will buy tamarind in a jar....very time consuming buying paste and processing...In the future I welcome short cut....thanks for delicious recipe

a July 10, 2014

what the hell? the picture blocks half the recipe!

Lauren K. July 15, 2014

It sounds like you might have encountered a browser issue -- I'll see if we can get that fixed!

BARBARA W. June 29, 2014

I do not have a grill either. I placed a cake rack in a baking container,like what you would bake a turkey in and baked the chicken at 400 40-45 mins

Pamela S. June 27, 2014

Would yuo help me convert this to an oven?...I live in an apartment and can't grill. 450 degrees for 30 min and turn over for an additional 15? Flavors sound great!

Summer O. June 29, 2014

When we do it in the oven it usually takes us about 40 minutes total at 425.

Mariona G. June 10, 2014

OMG!!! I saw the recipe and fell in love, so I prepared the marinade yesterday and put it into the fridge overnight, the rest today, and it's so savory!!I've been looking around long time for this flavor… Congrats!!!

Summer O. June 10, 2014

Thank you!

BARBARA W. May 14, 2014

whole foods and kroger sell it. try the ethnic,indian, areas. Also you can buy the tamrind and make the paste by cooking the tamrind with some water(i guesstimate) for 30 to 40 mins or until the water is almost absorb. remove the seeds

Horto May 13, 2014

tamarind,how I find this?

Summer O. May 7, 2014

I'm not sure which rock I've been living under but I had no idea this got a Wildcard pick. Thanks! I'm flattered.

Shawn O. May 7, 2014

do you use the lime zest and the lime juice or just the zest?

Summer O. May 7, 2014

Just the zest but you could try using the juice too for tangier version.

sevenfaces March 20, 2014

This was so easy, tasty and impressive; ticks all the boxes! Feeling extra lazy so I roasted the chicken on parchment paper in the oven, so even though there were no grill marks parts of the skin still turned a lovely caramelised brown. I poured the rest of the onions and garlic marinade over the chicken with 10 minutes to go, which gave me a rich sauce to serve with the chicken over steamed rice, green beans and choy sum. I'll be making this again for sure.

BARBARA W. March 19, 2014

glad i could help, you are welcome. Its a keeper for me too

KakiSue March 19, 2014

Made this last night-- and WOW! complex, tasty, beautiful mahogany color on the chicken. I bought a box of fresh (dried?) sweet tamarind at Whole Foods last week and have been looking for ways to consume. Making the pulp was pretty easy- crack the pods and remove, pull the strings, soak/simmer (45ish minutes) strain. I didnt worry about proportions-just made sure it was thick/thin and easily incorporated into the marinade. I could have easily used 6 leg quarters instead of 4 in the marinade, too. Thanks a ton- this will be in regular rotation!

Tamarind Chicken Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What does tamarind do to meat? ›

Tamarind is a great way to tenderize meat because of its high acidity, which breaks down tougher cuts. Use it in marinades for tender meat and a hint of sour flavor.

What does tamarind do in cooking? ›

It acts as a preservative, a cooling agent, and a remedy—its paste relieves the itchy mouthfeel that comes from eating tubers like yam and taro. It's also sour and sharp; as Saee Koranne-Khandekar explains in her book Pangat, a Feast, tamarind plays a crucial part in balancing flavors.

Is tamarind puree the same as tamarind sauce? ›

Tamarind paste concentrate is a dark, shiny, viscous syrup that is quite intense in flavor. Tamarind paste puree is thicker than concentrate and more similarly resembles a homemade paste in texture. The puree is usually slightly less tart than the concentrate but still packs a punch.

Do I need to soak tamarind paste? ›

Make tamarind paste using equal amounts of boiling water and tamarind pulp from the pliable block. Soak in water for 10-15 minutes then stir with a fork until it is a uniform consistency.

What are the side effects of eating too much tamarind? ›

Tamarind consumption is also detrimental to the appearance of the teeth. One of the most common drawbacks of tamarind is allergy. Many choose to eat this fruit, but it can cause ringworm, itching, swelling, dizziness, fainting, vomiting, and shortness of breath.

Is tamarind good or bad for the liver? ›

4. Offers liver protective benefits. Fatty liver disease, or hepatosteatosis, is increasing in the Western world, and tamarind fruit extract has been shown to provide a protective effect for the liver, as it contains antioxidants called procyanidins, that counter free radical damage to the liver.

Why is tamarind a laxative? ›

For starters, it is a good laxative, which means that it stimulates the bowel movements and excretion. Secondly, Tamarind also has high dietary fiber content, which helps bulk up the stool, making it easier for it to move around.

Why do Mexicans use tamarind? ›

When the Spaniards arrived in America, they brought several seeds with them and decided to plant the tamarind seed in New Spain. Thanks to the tropical zones that exist in our country, its cultivation spread throughout most of the country. From that moment on, it became a fundamental component of Mexican gastronomy.

What flavor is tamarind similar to? ›

Tamarind has a unique, sweet-sour flavour that makes it popular in sweet and savoury dishes alike. Its flavour has been compared to tangy lemon or lime balanced by sweet caramel notes, or a cross between lemon, apricot and dates. Some varieties of tamarind are sweeter than others, and all become sweeter as they ripen.

Do you have to refrigerate tamarind puree? ›

Most jars and containers of tamarind paste say to store in a cool, dry place, which means your spice cabinet will do just fine. You will find, however, that cooks who use tamarind often recommend storing in the refrigerator to ensure longer shelf life and freshness.

What ethnicity is tamarind sauce? ›

Tamarindus indica is probably indigenous to tropical Africa, but has been cultivated for so long on the Indian subcontinent that it is sometimes reported to be indigenous there. It grows wild in Africa in locales as diverse as Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Somalia, Tanzania and Malawi.

Can tamarind go bad? ›

Unopened tamarind paste can typically last for up to a year past its printed date when stored in a cool, dry place. Once you've opened the jar, the tamarind paste should be consumed within a month if stored at room temperature. But, if you refrigerate it after opening, it can last for about 6 months.

How to use tamarind in cooking? ›

Depending your recipe, you might want a looser or gooier consistency; just make sure the liquid retains some viscosity. How to use tamarind pulp: Swirl rehydrated tamarind pulp into a marinade for fish or meat—tamarind pairs especially well with soy sauce, garlic, and some kind of chile for heat.

Is tamarind good for you? ›

Tamarind is a fruit that contains a nutrient-rich, fibrous pulp. Its nutrients may have antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral effects, among other benefits. Tamarind is a type of tropical fruit used in many dishes around the world.

Does tamarind soften meat? ›

If you're looking to tenderize and marinate your meat, you should use tamarind to do so. Tamarind has amazing acidic properties that naturally tenderize firm beef and pork cuts. The acidic nature of the fruit breaks down the fibers in the meat, making it super tender and easier to cook with in stir-fries.

What flavor does tamarind add? ›

Tamarind has a unique, sweet-sour flavour that makes it popular in sweet and savoury dishes alike. Its flavour has been compared to tangy lemon or lime balanced by sweet caramel notes, or a cross between lemon, apricot and dates.

What is the purpose of tamarind? ›

Tamarind is a fruit that contains a nutrient-rich, fibrous pulp. Its nutrients may have antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral effects, among other benefits. Tamarind is a type of tropical fruit used in many dishes around the world. It may even have medicinal properties.

What happens to your body when you eat tamarind? ›

Tamarind fruit may serve as a natural laxative, and its components have the potential to promote muscle relaxation, which can be beneficial for managing diarrhea. Furthermore, tamarind seeds contain antioxidants that may help combat free radicals, potentially aiding in conditions such as stomach ulcers.

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