Tamarind Balls are a sweet, tangy treat made from just two ingredients: tamarind and sugar.
Happy Sunday!
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the lovely weather. I’m really excited to share this tamarind balls recipe with you all, but I have to admit, I debated whether to even post it.
I wondered whether anyone would want actually want a tamarind balls recipe. Do people like tamarind? Is the recipe too simple? Is it too… you get the idea. But I decided I did want to share this recipe because it means a lot to me. I definitely remember making (and eating!) tamarind balls as a kid. So I wanted to share this memory with you all because for me, simple sentimental recipes are often the best!
So I hope you enjoy this recipe.
What is tamarind?
The best way I can describe tamarind, also called tamarindo, is to say that it looks like a brown bean pod and has a sticky, really tart pulp inside. There are a ton of seeds inside each tamarind pod, so removing the tamarind from the seeds is always a real pain, and smart Jamaican mothers know that it’s a great way to occupy kids.
If you’re like me and you don’t want the hassle of preparing your own tamarind pulp, you can buy prepackaged tamarind pulp at local Caribbean or Asian markets. I used tamarind pulp that had seeds, but you can also buy a version with the seeds removed.
TIP: Do not use tamarind paste. That’s something totally different. Tamarind paste already has sugar in it and is much thinner. Tamarind pulp is literally just tamarind. I included a link to the tamarind pulp I used in the recipe below.
Let’s make tamarind balls…
Once you have the tamarind pulp, making these tamarind balls is super easy. Everyone makes them a little different, but I’m sharing the way we typically make them in Jamaica.
Start by adding granulated sugar to the tamarind pulp. Use a fork to press the sugar into the tamarind until it forms a thick, sticky paste and the sugar is completely incorporated.
Next, wet your hands. This is an essential step so the tamarind doesn’t stick to your hands. Pull a bite sized piece of the tamarind mixture and roll it around in your hands until it forms a ball. The ball don’t have to be uniform, so don’t worry about perfection. And definitely don’t use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure, that would not be authentic at all! I would totally judge you for doing that too! Not really, but you definitely want to hand roll these.
Once you make the balls, roll them in sugar to coat the outsides. I used granulated cane sugar, but you can also try rolling in turbinado sugar.
Want to spice things up?
Another common way to prepare tamarind balls is to add some spice to them! You can cut up half of a habanero or scotch bonnet pepper and add to the tamarind mix before rolling.
You can also roll the tamarind in a habanero sugar, which is just cane sugar and finely ground habanero pepper. So delicious!
Recipe Video
Check out this video to see how to make these tamarind balls.
Looking for more delicious recipes? Try:
Share this recipe…
If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know by rating it and leaving a comment below. I would love to hear from you. And don’t forget to tag @sweetandsorrel on Instagram!
Tamarind Balls
Ingredients
- 15.5 oz package
tamarind pulp - 1 cup cane sugar, plus more for rolling
- 1/2 habanero pepper, finely diced (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine tamarind pulp* and sugar. Add habanero pepper now if using. Use a fork to press the sugar into the pulp until the sugar dissolves and the pulp is very sticky.
- Pour more sugar out onto a plate for rolling. Set aside.
- Wet your hands with water, then pull off a small piece of the tamarind and sugar paste. Roll in your hands until it forms a ball, then roll in sugar to coat. Repeat for the rest of the tamarind mixture. I got about 12-15 tamarind balls.
Notes
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tag @sweetandsorrel on Instagram and hashtag it #sweetandsorrel so we can see all the deliciousness!
