Tamarind is the fruit of a tall tree that grows in Asia. Its pods are about five inches long and contain seeds and a pulp that become extremely sour when dried. Tamarind pulp concentrate is widely used in Indian cooking. Tamarind flavors many curries, chutneys, lentil and bean dishes, and is often used in hot and sour soups.
Slab of seedless tamarind or imli. This tamarind needs to be soaked in a little warm water to create an extract for use in cooking. It is generally used to add a pleasant tangy taste to dishes like the South Indian sambar and rasam. It is also widely used to flavor chaat dishes like pani puri and for chutneys.
