Out of tamarind?

Tamarind substitutes

Tamarind is Tart, tangy fruit pulp with sour-sweet flavor, used in Southeast Asian, Indian, and Latin American cooking.

Use this

Lime Juice + Brown Sugar

Use 1 tbsp lime juice + 1 tsp brown sugar for every 1 tbsp tamarind paste

Best for sauces

The best substitutes for tamarind are lime juice with brown sugar, pomegranate molasses, sumac, or lemon juice with date syrup depending on the recipe and desired flavor profile.

At a glance

Every tamarind substitute on one screen. Tap a name for detail.

Tamarind substitutes compared
#	Substitute	Instead of tamarind, use
1	Lime Juice + Brown Sugar	1 tbsp lime juice + 1 tsp brown sugar per 1 tbsp tamarind paste
2	Pomegranate Molasses	Same amount
3	Sumac	1 tbsp sumac + 1 tsp sugar + 2 tbsp water per 1 tbsp tamarind paste
4	Lemon Juice + Date Syrup	1 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tsp date syrup per 1 tbsp tamarind paste
5	White Wine Vinegar + Honey	1 tbsp white wine vinegar + 1 tsp honey per 1 tbsp tamarind paste
6	Cranberry Juice + Sugar	1 tbsp cranberry juice + 1 tsp sugar per 1 tbsp tamarind paste

Every tamarind substitute

Ranked, with the exact amount and what changes

1. Lime Juice + Brown Sugar
Use 1 tbsp lime juice + 1 tsp brown sugar for every 1 tbsp tamarind paste
Combination that provides similar tartness and sweetness
What changes
Best for
sauces, marinades, dressings, when you want quick substitute
Taste
tart, sweet
Texture
liquid
Prep. Mix lime juice and brown sugar together. Adjust ratios to taste.
Most accessible substitute. Adjust sweetness and acidity to taste.
2. Pomegranate Molasses
Use the same amount
Concentrated pomegranate juice with tart, sweet flavor
What changes
Best for
Middle Eastern dishes, sauces, marinades, when you want similar consistency
Taste
tart, sweet, fruity
Texture
thick, syrupy
Prep. Use directly as 1:1 replacement. May need to thin with water.
Similar consistency to tamarind paste. Tart and sweet flavor profile.
3. Sumac
Use 1 tbsp sumac + 1 tsp sugar + 2 tbsp water for every 1 tbsp tamarind paste
Middle Eastern spice with tart, lemony flavor
What changes
Best for
Middle Eastern dishes, when you want tart flavor, spice blends, marinades
Taste
tart, lemony
Texture
powder, needs liquid
Prep. Mix sumac with sugar and water to create paste consistency.
Very tart, so add sugar to balance. Mix with water to create paste consistency.
4. Lemon Juice + Date Syrup
Use 1 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tsp date syrup for every 1 tbsp tamarind paste
Combination that provides tartness and natural sweetness
What changes
Best for
sauces, marinades, when you want natural sweetness, Middle Eastern dishes
Taste
tart, sweet, fruity
Texture
liquid
Prep. Mix lemon juice and date syrup together. Adjust sweetness to taste.
Natural alternative. Date syrup provides complex sweetness.
5. White Wine Vinegar + Honey
Use 1 tbsp white wine vinegar + 1 tsp honey for every 1 tbsp tamarind paste
Combination that provides acidity and sweetness
What changes
Best for
sauces, marinades, when you want vinegar-based substitute, dressings
Taste
acidic, sweet
Texture
liquid
Prep. Mix white wine vinegar and honey together. Adjust sweetness to taste.
More acidic than tamarind. Adjust honey to balance acidity.
6. Cranberry Juice + Sugar
Use 1 tbsp cranberry juice + 1 tsp sugar for every 1 tbsp tamarind paste
Fruity alternative with tart and sweet flavor
What changes
Best for
sauces, marinades, when you want fruity flavor, beverages
Taste
tart, sweet, fruity
Texture
liquid
Prep. Mix cranberry juice and sugar together. Adjust sweetness to taste.
Fruity flavor that works well in many applications. Adjust sweetness to taste.

Tips for substituting tamarind

Choose your substitute based on the recipe's flavor requirements and availability
For Southeast Asian dishes: lime juice + brown sugar works well
For Middle Eastern dishes: pomegranate molasses or sumac work best
For Indian dishes: lime juice + brown sugar or lemon juice + date syrup work well
For sauces: pomegranate molasses provides similar consistency
For marinades: any substitute works well, but adjust sweetness and acidity
For dressings: lime juice + brown sugar or white wine vinegar + honey work well
For beverages: cranberry juice + sugar works well
For spice blends: sumac works well for tart flavor
Always taste and adjust seasoning when using substitutes

Questions about tamarind substitutes

What does tamarind taste like?

Tamarind has a unique tart, tangy flavor with sweet undertones. It's both sour and sweet, making it versatile in many cuisines.

Can I use lemon juice instead of tamarind?

Lemon juice alone won't provide the same flavor, but mixing it with brown sugar or date syrup can create a similar tart-sweet profile.

Is pomegranate molasses the same as tamarind?

No, but pomegranate molasses has a similar tart-sweet flavor profile and thick consistency, making it a good substitute in many recipes.

How do I make tamarind paste from tamarind pods?

Soak tamarind pods in hot water for 30 minutes, then strain the liquid and discard the seeds and fibers. The resulting liquid is tamarind paste.

Need a different ingredient?

Browse the full index, or the rest of this category.

Browse all substitutes More vegetables & aromatics

At a glance

Every tamarind substitute

1. Lime Juice + Brown Sugar

2. Pomegranate Molasses

3. Sumac

4. Lemon Juice + Date Syrup

5. White Wine Vinegar + Honey

6. Cranberry Juice + Sugar