Hello I'm cooking the pathia recipe later and I've just checked my cupboard and I'm all out of tamarind. What would be a good substitute?

Possible alternatives are:

Lemon (or preferably lime) juice with a little brown sugar

Pinch of Amchur (dried mango powder)

Also it is actually tamarind that gives HP sauce its distinctive taste!

Winton

Thank you for the quick reply. I've got some amchur power so I'll try that.

other sweet and sours can be pomegranate powder, and sumac powder. Another Middle East 'spice' is powdered dry limes, called loomi, although I think this should be limoo, as its Oman dried lemons rather than limes!!

I have a collection of dried citrus fruits, including lemons, limes, tangerines and pomegranates, enough to fill a bowl, something festive vicar?

Lapis - how did you dried the citrus peel? this winter I want to dry orange & clementines but was thinking of putting near the radiator!

oh, various ways, some in the fridge, some just rolled under a cupboard, none was intentionally dried!! They are not peel, but whole fruit. I have a whole red sweet pepper, too!

If anyone can find dried lime powder, (I think Green Fields do it) do try it, it is an excellent flavour, as is Moroccan salted lemons I bought in the market on Saturday from the Algerian guy, even asked for the lemons and olives in French, well, I had too, he spoke little English.

And don't forget, died, ground citrus peel is very good for skin; Cleansing and Exfoliating Face Masks/Skin-packs

If you add citrus peel to coal fire, it gives out a very pleasant smelling smoke.

I would dry it in summer or leave in a tray in any warm place in your house. It will dry out soon.

thank you...going to try the drying out at room temp near the radiator and see what happens. I shall try ordinary oranges and Seville oranges when they're in season to see if I can detect a difference on using it.

like the sound of the lime powder...love anything lime

Mamta - good tips!

The first sentence of my last post should have read, "And don't forget, dried, ground citrus peel is very good for skin", not died!!

just keep an eye on the drying fruit, for some reason some just dry while others grow mold (very quickly), and any fruit nearby could be affected.