Tamarind Dipping Sauce

A tangy and flavorful Asian dipping sauce combining the sour notes of tamarind with sweet, spicy, and umami elements from ginger, garlic, fish sauce, and chili-garlic sauce. Perfect as a condiment for spring rolls, grilled meats, or seafood.

4 servings

35 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•5 ounces tamarind pulp
•2 cups water
•1 inch fresh ginger
•3 cloves garlic
•3 tablespoons sugar
•1 tablespoon chili-garlic sauce
•2 teaspoons Thai fish sauce
•1 teaspoon soy sauce
•2 tablespoons cornstarch

Cooking Instructions

1.
1. Combine the tamarind and 2 cups of the water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the tamarind has softened, about 15 minutes. Help it along by breaking up the pulp with a spoon.
20 min
2.
2. Strain the tamarind through a sieve, pressing on the pulp to extract as much water as possible. Discard the pump and seeds and return the water to the pan. Add the ginger, garlic, 3 tablespoons sugar, the chili-garlic sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
10 min
3.
3. Whisk the cornstarch with the remaining 2 tablespoons water. When smooth, whisk the mixture into the tamarind sauce, continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool. Before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more sugar if necessary to balance the tartness of the tamarind. Store tamarind sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
5 min

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine the tamarind and 2 cups of the water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the tamarind has softened, about 15 minutes. Help it along by breaking up the pulp with a spoon.

20 min

2. Strain the tamarind through a sieve, pressing on the pulp to extract as much water as possible. Discard the pump and seeds and return the water to the pan. Add the ginger, garlic, 3 tablespoons sugar, the chili-garlic sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

10 min

3. Whisk the cornstarch with the remaining 2 tablespoons water. When smooth, whisk the mixture into the tamarind sauce, continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool. Before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more sugar if necessary to balance the tartness of the tamarind. Store tamarind sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

5 min