Tequila Tamarindo Recipe
- 8 ounces tamarind paste (from seedless pliable block), coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 5 cups water, divided
- 1 4-ounce piece fresh ginger, peeled, thinly sliced into rounds (scant 1 cup)
- 1 cup sugar
- 12 orange slices, divided
- 3/4 cup silver (or white) tequila
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- Ice cubes
- 3 cups chilled club soda, divided
- Bring tamarind and 2 cups water to boil in small saucepan. Reduce heat; simmer until tamarind is soft, stirring often and breaking up with wooden spoon, about 25 minutes. Transfer to strainer set over bowl. Press on tamarind to extract puree; discard solids in strainer. Cool.
- Bring 1 cup water, ginger, and sugar to boil in another small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Cool ginger syrup.
- Place 6 orange slices in bottom of large pitcher; mash with muddler or handle of wooden spoon. Strain ginger syrup into same pitcher; discard ginger. Add 1 cup tamarind puree, tequila, lime juice, salt, and 2 cups water; stir to blend. Chill until cold.
- Fill 6 tall glasses with ice. Divide tamarind drink among glasses. Top each with 1/2 cup chilled club soda; garnish each drink with 1 orange slice.