Gluten-Free Tamarind Agua Fresca
By the Gluten Free Recipes team ·
This vibrant Tamarind Agua Fresca offers a delightful balance of tart and sweet, with a refreshing, smooth texture. It's a perfect thirst-quencher, showcasing the unique tangy flavor of tamarind for a truly invigorating beverage.
At a glance: This easy drinks and smoothies recipe yields 2 servings in about 28 minutes (8 min prep, 20 min cook). It uses 5 ingredients — including tamarind pulp, water, sugar or agave nectar — and walks through 5 steps. Updated . Browse more drinks and smoothies recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.
Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Tamarind Agua Fresca: When preparing this drinks and smoothies recipe, exercise caution with all packaged ingredients. Cross-contamination can occur during manufacturing, so always look for explicit gluten-free certifications on items like sugar or agave nectar to avoid any trace amounts of gluten In a shared kitchen, avoid porous materials — wooden spoons, wooden cutting boards, and scratched non-stick pans can harbor gluten proteins even after washing. Prefer glass, metal, or silicone tools.
Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Tamarind Agua Fresca: This recipe is naturally gluten-free. Ensure that any added sweeteners, like agave nectar, are certified gluten-free if you have strict dietary needs.
Ingredients
- 1 cup tamarind pulp (seedless)
- 4 cups water
- 0.5 cup sugar or agave nectar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- 1
In a medium saucepan, combine the seedless tamarind pulp and 2 cups of water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes. The tamarind should soften and break down into a thick paste.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the tamarind mixture cool slightly for about 5 minutes. Carefully strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing down on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the remaining pulp and seeds.
- 3
To the strained tamarind liquid, add the remaining 2 cups of water, sugar or agave nectar, and fresh lime juice. Stir vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 2-3 minutes. Taste the mixture and add more sweetener if desired, ensuring a pleasant sweet-tart balance.
- 4
Fill a blender with the tamarind liquid and the ice cubes. Blend on high speed for about 60-90 seconds, or until the ice is fully crushed and the agua fresca is smooth and frothy. The mixture should be a vibrant reddish-brown color.
- 5
Pour the blended Tamarind Agua Fresca into chilled glasses. Serve immediately for the best refreshing experience, garnished with a lime wedge or a sprig of mint if desired.
Nutrition (per serving)
Tips & Notes
- Add leafy greens like spinach or kale — you won't taste them, but they add nutrients.
- Make this ahead and refrigerate overnight for the best results.
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