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Home » All My Recipes

Tamarind Chicken

Published: Feb 25, 2016 · Modified: Apr 12, 2020 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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   Dinner got easier with this tangy and mildly sweet chicken thighs. Serve with rice, pasta or noodles. In less than 45 minutes, you'll have a delicious homemade dinner that everyone will rave about.A close up of a plate of food, with Tamarind Chicken and pasta

This is a very easy chicken thighs recipe which is also very quick and tasty. tamarind leaves the chicken tangy and delicious while sugar and vinegar helps tenderize the thighs - as if they are not tender already. I like using thighs in this recipe instead of breast as it is more flavorful and kid friendly.

A close up of a plate of food, with Tamarind Chicken and pasta

I love tamarind drink, it is sweet, tangy and so delicious and it reminds me so much of the holy month of Ramadan. This drink is also very common in Egypt during the summer days, when it is super hot and humid, this drink comes to cool you down and hydrate your poor summer body.

This was my only experience with tamarind, until one day, one of my friends here made grape leaves mahshi and she used a clever trick of drizzling it with tamarind while cooking instead of lime juice and it tasted so so good, it was little darker than the usual one made with juist lime juice but it was much tastier.

A close up of a plate of food, with Tamarind Chicken and pasta

Since then, I have been thinking of using tamarind in marinating chicken and beef  but did not quite go for it. Until I just managed to figure out a nice combination of ingredients that really worked very well with chicken thighs. Feel free to use chicken breast instead but really, I believe chicken thighs are much better in this recipe.

 

We loved this dish and I am going to make it over and over again, not just because me and the hubby licked almost every drop of sauce but also because my youngest - who barely eats chicken- got crazy about this recipe and kept asking for more!!

Here is a video showing you how to prepare this simple tamarind chicken dish. I hope you'll like it... Enjoy!!

 

Tamarind chicken in a bowl over pasta.

Tamarind chicken

A delicious, quick and easy chicken recipe perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or as a tasty addition to your weekend meal prep.
4.46 from 46 votes
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Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Diet: Halal
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 363kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs- cut into 1-2 inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ⅓ cup tamarind juice or use 2 teaspoon tamarind paste + water
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • ⅓ cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup of water

Instructions

  • Heat up a large skillet over medium high heat. then pour in the olive oil.
  • Add the chicken pieces and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • In a bowl combine garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, tamarind, vinegar and ketchup , mix everything well together.
  • When all the water has evaporated from the chicken and it is nice and a little brown , pour the sauce into the pan. Stir it around to cover all the chicken pieces.
  • When it boils, reduce the heat, and add the cornstarch dissolved in water, cover and let it cook for almost 20 minutes until done. Taste to adjust seasoning.
  • Garnish with some sesame seeds and serve hot with rice/pasta or noodles

Video

Notes

Do not use a tamarind juice with sugar, if so then skip the brown sugar in the recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 996mg | Potassium: 736mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg
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About Amira

I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. To help you create food with style that will bring everyone around your kitchen table. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tamber

    January 24, 2024 at 6:01 pm

    5 stars
    I do not usually leave a review but this recipe has been on my monthly rotation for over two years now and my family loves it.

    Reply
  2. Randa Tadros

    August 23, 2022 at 9:56 am

    Do you use tamarind juice or make it with paste plus water?

    Reply
  3. o poder do chá de sumiço 2.0

    August 21, 2022 at 2:09 am

    Great article, I liked it very much congratulations!! 27229433

    Reply
  4. Chris

    May 18, 2022 at 8:02 am

    5 stars
    Step 4 says "when all the water has evaporated" but there is no mention of adding water. Do I add water with the oil?

    Reply
    • Amira

      May 25, 2022 at 6:15 pm

      Chris, no you do not add more water, just when the chicken is dry.

      Reply
    • Kevin

      May 17, 2024 at 5:37 am

      She means when the liquid from the chicken pieces has evaporated.

      Reply
  5. Sommer Osman

    June 12, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic flavor

    Reply
  6. Gabi

    April 20, 2021 at 3:26 am

    5 stars
    I didn´t use the juice but it was really delicious, all the same!

    Reply
  7. NM

    March 24, 2021 at 5:37 pm

    3 stars
    Needed some ginger, scallions and carrots or peppers to brighten the recipe. Great sauce and starting point.

    Reply
  8. Susan Arbuthnot

    December 02, 2020 at 4:38 am

    haven't tried it yet but looks great!

    Reply
  9. Olivia

    February 06, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    I want to make this so bad! But the only tamarind type thing I found was tamarind concentrate. Is that the same thing as paste or juice?

    Reply
    • Amira

      February 07, 2020 at 11:36 am

      Olivia, usually they are the same. It is thick and sticky almost has the same consistency as honey. I hope this helps.

      Reply
  10. Joe

    February 06, 2020 at 12:16 pm

    4 stars
    I made this as specified and, while it was good, I thought it was lacking salt and heat and that the amount of sauce was insufficient. So, I made it again, doubling the sauce ingredients and adding 2 T of Thai fish sauce plus a few diced Thai chilies, and it was superb.

    Reply
    • Amira

      February 07, 2020 at 11:33 am

      Thank you Joe for such an insightful and detailed comment. I am happy you've found a way to customize this recipe according to your liking, I am sure others will find this helpful as well.

      Reply
  11. Letitia Bradbury

    January 21, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    I am a tamarind addict! I am making this dish tomorrow night for my family. I am so excited to try it!! I’ll let you know how it is received by 4 picky boys!

    Reply
    • Amira

      January 23, 2020 at 11:22 am

      Letitia, I will be waiting for your pictures too and I hope you'll like it. Thank you.

      Reply
  12. Sara Khatib

    August 18, 2019 at 2:21 pm

    Loved this recipe, but I didn't let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes since It was thick enough, next time ill leave it to simmer for longer so I can get more intense flavor. I also used tamarind juice since thats what I had on hand and it turned out great

    Reply
    • Amira

      August 19, 2019 at 10:42 am

      Thank you Sara for trying this recipe, I am happy you liked it.

      Reply
    • Debby

      November 03, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      5 stars
      Amira,
      I love love tamarind and was glad to find another way to cook with it. (I get a big bag of it and eat it right from the pod...) Anyhow, I added more tamarind and ketchup and love the tangy sauce. I even used whole chicken thighs. (Cooking right now). I may even put the chicken under the broiler and baste a few times.
      Thank you for this! I will definitely check out your other recipes. Glad I stumbled on your site.
      Take care!

      Reply
      • Amira

        November 07, 2019 at 12:10 pm

        Thank you Debby, I finally got a tamarind enthusiast as me :). I have to say though that until now I did not eat tamarind right out of the pod, I will definitely look for some. I am glad you liked the recipe.

        Reply
  13. Casey

    May 06, 2019 at 5:05 am

    3 stars
    Not sure where I went wrong, but it turned out soooooo sour. The chicken itself was nice but the sauce on the noodles wasn't enjoyable at all.

    Reply
    • Amira

      May 06, 2019 at 6:19 am

      Casey, thank you for trying the recipe. Tamarind is sour for sure but this was only 2 teaspoons! Probably the brand you've used for the paste? not sure honestly.

      Reply
  14. Theresa

    April 22, 2019 at 12:49 pm

    This recipe looks a lot easier than beggars chicken I usually make, think I'll try it.

    Reply
    • Amira

      April 22, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      Waiting for you to try it Theresa, I've had many readers email me at how good this turned out for them. Let me know how it did with you.

      Reply
  15. Alix

    April 08, 2018 at 3:34 pm

    Can you clarify how much tamarind if you are using wet (pulp) and don't have juice? Thanks.

    Reply
  16. Alix

    April 08, 2018 at 3:31 pm

    Can you explain the amount of tamarind? Do you mean put the pulp in water or do I need actually juice? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amira

      April 09, 2018 at 11:12 am

      Alix, actually neither! there is something called tamarind paste, that is like a concentrate. Here is a link on amazon (affiliate).

      Reply
  17. Katie

    January 20, 2018 at 2:54 am

    5 stars
    Hi Amira, I made the Tamarind Chicken last night and it was delicious. Thanks for the recipe

    Reply
    • Amira

      January 20, 2018 at 6:08 pm

      Katie, thank you so much for trying this recipe and for leaving a feedback. I am so happy that you’ve liked it.

      Reply
  18. Igor @ Cooking The Globe

    July 01, 2016 at 2:30 pm

    What an awesome dish, Amira! I stumbled upon your blog only today and I really love everything you do. Good luck in the future!

    Reply
    • Amira

      July 06, 2016 at 12:39 am

      Thanks Igor, I appreciate it. I love your blog too.

      Reply
  19. Henna

    March 13, 2016 at 9:54 pm

    This is so interesting Amira! The only time I've used tamarind is in a traditional Pakistani chutney.
    I can only imagine the awesome tango of flavors going on here!

    Reply
    • Amira

      March 16, 2016 at 2:43 pm

      It is super nice ,, flavors go so well together. Thanks Henna.

      Reply
  20. Isiah Grinde

    March 12, 2016 at 6:59 pm

    Make this Indian-inspired chicken dish on the grill--or in the oven--for a flavorful dinner with minimal cleanup.

    Reply
  21. Michelle @ thelastfoodblog

    March 02, 2016 at 2:25 am

    This looks delicious Amira! I've never cooked with tamarind, but it looks like this recipe could change that 😉 Pinned it x

    Reply
  22. Ahu @ AhuEats

    February 27, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    Just reading the word 'tamarind' makes my mouth water. Looks incredible 🙂

    Reply
    • Amira

      February 28, 2016 at 10:43 pm

      Woow, seems that I've got someone to share my tamarind love with :). Thanks Ahu.

      Reply
  23. Umm Hamza

    February 26, 2016 at 9:19 am

    It's a must try recipe for me, especially after your little ones approval! It's so difficult for us mums trying to cook 1 meal to please all / the majority. Usually I end up cooking 2 different meals twice a day, that's not including breakfast when everyone wants to eat different things lol, but alhamdulillah for everything. Sweet and sour things I realy enjoy, think it comes from my love of sour sweets as a kid, then again maybe not

    Reply
    • Amira

      February 29, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      I was so amazed that he liked it, usually my kids do not like saucy chicken, and it is really hard to convince them to eat it!!! and when they do, they say it is delicious.. strange kids!!! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Litina

    February 26, 2016 at 3:24 am

    looks delicious yummy! can you please list more recipes that uses tamarind

    Reply
    • Amira

      February 29, 2016 at 10:08 pm

      I will do my best in the near future to include it in my recipes as I have discovered amazing health benefits for tamarind too!!. Thanks for the comment.

      Reply

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Hey Y'all, I'm Amira.
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I send warm greetings from sunny Colorado. This blog combines weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean.
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