Substitutions

What can I use instead of tamarind paste?

Q: Can I use pomegranate molasses instead of tamarind paste?

1 tbsp tamarind paste = 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses. It has the same sweet-sour balance and the same syrupy consistency, from a fruit reduced rather than a pod pressed. Sweeter and more floral, and it will darken a dish more. Very good in a marinade, slightly perfumed in a pad thai.

Q: Can I use worcestershire sauce instead of tamarind paste?

1 tbsp tamarind paste = 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Tamarind is one of Worcestershire's core ingredients, so the sour-sweet fruit note is genuinely present rather than approximated. Much saltier and thinner, with spice and onion riding along. Reduce salt elsewhere in the dish.

The pulp of tamarind pods, sour and faintly sweet with a dark fruity depth, sold either as a soft block of pulp or as a thick dark concentrate. The two are not equally strong, which is the main source of trouble.

What it does in a recipe: Fruity sourness with body and a molasses-like sweetness underneath — acid and flavour in one. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.

Also called: Tamarind concentrate, Imli

4substitutes

0close matches

Acids & vinegarscategory

Quick answer

Lime juice + brown sugar

1 tbsp tamarind paste = 2 tsp lime juice + 1 tsp brown sugar

All substitutes, best first

4 ways to replace tamarind paste

Lime juice + brown sugar

Reliable

1 tbsp tamarind paste = 2 tsp lime juice + 1 tsp brown sugar

Tamarind's two defining qualities are sharp fruit acid and a dark caramel sweetness, and lime plus brown sugar covers both.

MethodStir until the sugar dissolves so the sourness and sweetness arrive together rather than in sequence.

Trade-offBrighter and thinner, without tamarind's fruity depth or its ability to thicken a sauce slightly.

CookingSaucesVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Pomegranate molasses

Reliable

1 tbsp tamarind paste = 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses

It has the same sweet-sour balance and the same syrupy consistency, from a fruit reduced rather than a pod pressed.

Trade-offSweeter and more floral, and it will darken a dish more. Very good in a marinade, slightly perfumed in a pad thai.

CookingSaucesRaw / no-cookVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Apple cider vinegar + molasses

In a pinch

1 tbsp tamarind paste = 2 tsp apple cider vinegar + 1 tsp molasses

Vinegar supplies the sourness and molasses the dark, slightly bitter sweetness that tamarind carries.

Trade-offThe acidity reads as sharper and more acetic rather than fruity, which is noticeable in a chutney.

CookingSaucesVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Worcestershire sauce

In a pinch

1 tbsp tamarind paste = 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Tamarind is one of Worcestershire's core ingredients, so the sour-sweet fruit note is genuinely present rather than approximated.

Trade-offMuch saltier and thinner, with spice and onion riding along. Reduce salt elsewhere in the dish.

CookingSaucesDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-free

Allergen checkWorcestershire contains anchovies, so this swap adds fish to a dish and makes it unsuitable for vegetarians and anyone with a fish allergy. Its malt vinegar also usually means gluten.

Worth knowing

Concentrate is roughly two to three times stronger than pulp made up from a block. If your recipe does not specify, start with half and taste, because tamarind is very hard to pull back once it is in.

At a glance

Tamarind paste in summary

Category	Acids & vinegars
Job in a recipe	Fruity sourness with body and a molasses-like sweetness underneath — acid and flavour in one
Suits	Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free, Alcohol-free
Swaps available for	Alcohol-free Dairy-free Egg-free Gluten-free Nut-free Soy-free Vegan Vegetarian
Number of substitutes	4

More acids & vinegars

Apple cider vinegar4 substitutes Balsamic vinegar4 substitutes Cream of tartar4 substitutes Lemon juice5 substitutes Lime juice4 substitutes Red wine vinegar4 substitutes

Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.