Sweet and Sour Date and Tamarind Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup chopped dates
  
• 1/8 cup hot water
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons tamarind extract
  
• 1/3 cup jjaggery (a type of cane sugar) or dark brown sugar
  
• 1/8 teaspoon red chile powder
  
• Salt, to taste
  
• 1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds, ground
  

Directions

1. Soak the dates in the hot water till soft. Reserving the liquid, drain prior to blending.
2. Combine tamarind extract, jaggery, and chopped dates in a food processor and blend until the dates have completely been mashed up and the sugar has dissolved. Add red chile powder, salt, and toasted cumin powder. Mix well. Add the reserved liquid to dilute if needed.
3. Keeps for around 1 week in an airtight container in the refrigerator.