Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (2024)

Sweet, tangy and spicy…the perfect oven roasted chicken for a quick weeknight dinner!

Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (1)

There nothing like a quick roast chicken weeknight dinner. But, just because it’s chicken it doesn’t have to be boring. This sweet and tangy Tamarind sauce is just the thing to spruce up your weeknight chicken dinner.

If you haven’t heard of tamarind and are wondering what the hell is it? it’s a pod like fruit that grows in tropical climates of Africa, India, South-East Asia and Mexico. Inside the pods are seeds surrounded by a sticky tart pulp. The pulp is usually taken out and the seeds removed from the pod shell. It is then used fresh in small quantities, or is often dried to increase its shelf life. It tastes a lot stronger and becomes a lot tarter when dried. In it’s dried form, you tend to have to soak a small lump of tamarind pulp in hot/ war water to loosen it and extract the flavor. The water is then used in curries,dishes, chutneys, soups etc. to lend a sour tangy note. The pulp is also sometimes made into a paste and diluted for ease of use as is. It tastes quite potent sour and tart, but often is mixed with sugar or date paste to balance out the tartness.

Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (2)You can buy tamarind in dried or wet paste form or as a concentrate with or without sugar added in a lot of Asian store and some bigger grocery stores. But if not, you can always source it on Amazon here- https://amzn.to/2E2Ko6Y (affiliate link). And I would highly recommend getting some as it is a stellar ingredient to add some zing to a dish and is a must have if you love Indian, Thai or Middle Eastern dishes and like to recreate them at home.

For this recipe I simply made a sweet and tangy tamarind paste sauce…with a hint of Asian flavors like soy, ginger and garlic and simple scored 2 bone in skin on chicken leg quarters and brushed them with the sauce before oven roasting them along with some sweet potatoes as a vegetable side. You can use any cuts of chicken you like for this recipe and alter the quantities of honey, cayenne and tamarind paste to adjust the sweet, spicy or tartness of the sauce according to your taste. Here’s the recipe-

Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (3)

Sticky Tamarind Roasted Chicken

2018-03-29 16:09:38

Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (4)

Serves 2

Sweet, tangy and spicy...the perfect oven roasted chicken for a quick weeknight dinner!

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Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

40 min

Total Time

50 min

Ingredients

  1. 2 Bone-in, Skin-on Chicken leg quarters
  2. 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  3. 1/2 Cup Onion, finely diced
  4. 1/2 Tsp Ginger, grated
  5. 1/2 Tbsp Garlic, grated
  6. 1/4 Cup Tamarind Paste
  7. 1/4 Cup Honey
  8. 1/4 Cup Orange Juice
  9. 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
  10. Zest & juice of 1 Lime
  11. 1/4 tsp Cayenne Powder
  12. Salt & Pepper, to taste
  13. Cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  1. - Heat oil in a small sauce pan
  2. - Add the diced onion and cook until they soften and start to brown
  3. - Stir in the grate ginger and garlic and cook for another minute, until frgrant.
  4. - Add the tamarind paste, honey, orange juice, soy sauce, lemon zest and juice along with the cayenne powder and bring the sauce to a gentle boil while stirring.
  5. - Let the sauce reduce and thicken to a syrupy consistency then turn off the heat.
  6. - In the meantime score your chicken leg quarters to the bone and season well with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. - Preheat oven to 425F. - Brush the chicken well with the tamarind sauce on both sides, reserving some sauce for basting later.
  8. - Place in an oven proof dish/sheet pan and roast for 30-40 mins until cooked all the way through. Baste the chicken with extra tamarind sauce & garnish with cilantro before serving.

By Noreen Hiskey (PictureTheRecipe.com)

Picture the Recipe https://picturetherecipe.com/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (10)Karly says

    This looks absolutely amazing!

    Reply

    • Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (11)Noreen says

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (12)Abby says

    I am a food blogger myself and your blog is stunning! I love your photo’s and recipes.
    This recipe looks amazing – I have to give it a try!

    Reply

  3. Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (13)Nancy says

    I tried this recipe as it is written, almost. The ingredients says a lime but the instructions said lemon zest. I used the recipes amount of lime and it was way too much. It overshadowed the other flavors. If you use lime, and a whole one, increase the ginger, garlic and cayenne or cut the lime ingredient in half. It was still fairly good but I want to try it again with lemon instead of lime. I will probably increase the spices anyway because I like spicy food. this recipe has potential. It would be nice to know if lime or lemon was intended.

    Reply

  4. Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (14)Lisa Morton says

    Hi Noreen,

    What would you serve with the sticky tamarind roasted chicken? Thank you!
    Lisa Morton

    Reply

  5. Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (15)Alison Lapping says

    This was amazing! Used zest and juice of a lemon instead of lime, and doubled the amount of ginger and garlic. Will definitely be making again. Fabulous recipe and so easy!

    Reply

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Sticky Tamarind Chicken | Picture the Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with tamarind? ›

Combine tamarind with other tropical fruits in sauces and salad dressings, where it goes well with orange, pineapple and mango. Blend honey with tamarind pulp and the adobo from chipotles in adobo for a smoky, sweet and sour glaze for grilled meat, poultry or seafood.

How do you cook tamarind? ›

  1. soak the tamarind in water, overnight or for 4-5 hours.
  2. 2 . with your hands, squeeze the pulp from the tamarind in the same bowl or pan. ...
  3. 3 . heat oil in small pan. ...
  4. 4 . stir and then add the strained tamarind pulp. ...
  5. 5 . add the jaggery and salt and cook for 4-5 minutes more till the imli chutney mixture thickens a bit.
Oct 9, 2019

What is tamarind paste made from? ›

Tamarind paste is from the fruit—or pods—of the tamarind tree, specifically the pulp that surrounds the seeds within the pod. The tamarind tree is a common hardwood fruit tree that is native to Africa but now grows all over Asia and Mexico. It bears large brown pods that contain the tamarind fruit.

What should not be eaten with tamarind? ›

Interactions ?
  • Aspirin interacts with TAMARIND. Taking tamarind with aspirin might increase how much aspirin the body absorbs. ...
  • Ibuprofen (Advil, others) interacts with TAMARIND. ...
  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with TAMARIND.

Who should not use tamarind? ›

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking tamarind if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Using in amounts greater than those found in foods should be avoided until more is known. Diabetes: Tamarind might lower blood sugar levels.

What does tamarind do to the body? ›

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.

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.

Is tamarind good for you? ›

The polyphenols in tamarind have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These can protect against diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes (1).

Why is tamarind a laxative? ›

According to these modern's perspectives, tamarind acts as an irritant laxative that may be helpful to detach the hard stool from the intestinal mucosa due to its irritant properties, irritates the colon's lining resulting in an increased urgency to pass bowel materials.

Is tamarind Indian or Thai? ›

Tamarind (tamarindus indica) is a fruit tree indigenous to tropical Africa, but is now grown and used in tropical regions around the world, including Thailand! It is a common ingredient in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, as well as in South America.

Can you eat tamarind paste raw? ›

Tamarind, also known as the Indian date, is a tart fruit which is popular in cuisines from Southeast Asia and India. The edible pulp is contained in a long, narrow pod filled with seeds, similar to a bean. You can eat the pulp raw, or you can use it to add a sweet and sour component to a number of dishes and drinks.

Should tamarind paste be refrigerated? ›

Tamarind paste can be kept in a cool, dry place, like a cupboard, but refrigeration will extend its shelf life.

Does tamarind paste 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 long does tamarind paste last in the fridge? ›

Tamarind paste has a long shelf life. In the fridge, it will last 4-5 weeks and in the freezer for many months. Freeze in ice cube trays for convenience, one tablespoon portions to use in sauces, stews, marinades, etc.

What flavors work with tamarind? ›

Tamarind paste pairs well with savory flavors such as garlic, peanut, and soy sauce as well as sweet flavors such as pomegranate, orange, and lemon in marinades.

What balances tamarind? ›

Tamarind sauce consists of watered-down tamarind paste and other flavorful ingredients that balance out the sourness of the paste. Typical ingredients for a tamarind sauce include brown sugar, ginger, chili pepper and soy sauce.

What is used with tamarind while cooking? ›

When tamarind is used during cooking, jaggery is added to it, due to which it maintains the pH balance of the body. There are many benefits of jaggery. It helps in preventing constipation.

What is tamarind commonly used in? ›

It's used extensively in Indian cuisine, it's one of the pillars of Thai food (it's what makes pad thai, pad thai!), and it's also commonly found in Vietnamese dishes. Think chutneys and sauces, marinades, curries, salad dressings, even desserts.

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