Rajasthani Imli Ka Amlana
Rajasthani Imli Ka Amlana is a chilled tamarind drink with black salt, pepper, cardamom, and a sharp sweet-sour finish.
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10 mintotal
Prep 10 min
- Serves
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spice
- Mild
Ingredients
Quantities are for 2 servings.
Active time only when using ready tamarind paste; add 30 minutes if soaking dry tamarind.
Method
In a pitcher, combine the thick tamarind paste with a small amount of warm water. Stir until the tamarind paste is completely dissolved and smooth.
Add the sugar, black salt, black pepper powder, and cardamom powder to the tamarind water. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
Pour in the chilled water and stir well to blend all the flavors.
Taste and adjust the sweetness or saltiness if needed, as tamarind tartness can vary.
Serve in tall glasses filled with ice cubes, garnished with a few crushed mint leaves.
How to tell it's done
The drink should be light amber and thin, with tamarind tartness first and a rounded sweet-salty finish.
Getting it right
Tip
If you don't have readymade tamarind paste, soak a lemon-sized ball of dry tamarind in hot water for 30 minutes, squeeze the pulp, and strain it to use.
What to serve it with
Serve alongside heavy Rajasthani meals like Daal Baati Churma as a tangy, refreshing contrast.
Common mistakes
- It is either mouth-puckering or flat and sweet.
- Dissolve the tamarind first, then taste and adjust before it is chilled. Tamarind varies enormously in strength between batches, and this drink lives on the balance between sour, salt, and sugar — the recipe amounts are a starting point, not a rule.
Substitutions
- A walnut-sized lump of seedless tamarind soaked in warm water and pressed through a sieve replaces the paste, and tastes fresher; strengths vary wildly, so taste before adding the full amount of sugar. Jaggery works in place of sugar and suits the drink well. Black salt is not interchangeable with table salt here.
Storing and reheating
Keeps two days chilled in a covered jug and the flavour settles nicely by the second hour. Do not add ice to the jug — it dilutes as it melts and the balance goes. Ice goes in the glass.
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