Jamaican Tamarind Balls
Sweet, sour and a little spicy, tamarind balls are chewy sugar-rolled sweets that Jamaicans snack on from the roadside.
- Time35 mins
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.20 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Break the tamarind block into pieces in a bowl. Pour over the warm water and leave for 10 minutes to soften.
10 min - 2
Squish and mash with your fingers until it is a thick paste. Pick out any stray seeds or stringy bits.
- 3
Work in the 150 g sugar and the cayenne, if using, until the mixture is thick and holds together. If it is too sticky, add a spoonful more sugar.
- 4
Put the 100 g sugar on a plate. With slightly damp hands, roll the mixture into 16 balls the size of a large grape.
- 5
Roll each ball in the sugar until well coated. Leave on a plate for 30 minutes to firm up. Store in a tin for up to a week.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
