->Tamarind Candy <-

3 cups hot (not boiling) water

1 1/2 cup tamarind paste

1 1/2 cup sugar (palm or light brown) (up to)

2 teaspoon powdered red chile

1 pinch salt

Take three cups of hot (not boiling) water, and soak one and half

cups of tamarind paste in it for about an hour, then squeeze the

paste through a fine muslin cloth to extract as much juice as

possible and then boil it to reduce it to two cups of tamarind

juice. While still boiling, stir in one and half cups of sugar,

until fully dissolved, then add one to 2 teaspoons of powdered red

chili and a pinch of salt and continue to boil and reduce. Meanwhile get a few cold glass plates or saucers, and when you think

the liquid is sufficiently reduced put a few drops on a plate and leave in the fridge for 5 minutes to see if it sets. Once it sets,

pour all the liquid into a shallow tray and leave to set, then cut into bite sized pieces, dust with icing sugar and keep in a well

stoppered jar.