Sampalok candy is a simple concoction of Tamarind and Sugar rolled into balls, popular candy in the Philippines and Thailand.
Tamarind is a widely used ingredient in South East Asian countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. It is used in almost anything from soups and sauces, the sweet, sour and fruity taste gives a unique flavour in dishes like Sinigang, Pad Thai, Assam Laksa and Massaman Curry to name some. This ingredient can also be used in drinks and even sweets like this post, Sampalok candy. It’s a simple concoction of Tamarind and Sugar rolled into balls.
Sampalok candy is a simple concoction of Tamarind and Sugar rolled into balls, popular candy in the Philippines and Thailand.
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup tamarind pulp
400g sweet potato, boiled
2 cups sugar + some for coating
2 cups water
salt
chilli flakes (optional, for Thai version)
Instructions
Mix all ingredients together in a sauce pan except the salt, place over medium heat and cook until mixture becomes thick and can hold its shape when formed into balls.
Cool down the mixture.
Add sugar and a bit of salt in a wide plate.
Form mixture into small balls and roll it into the sugar salt mixture.
thanks for sharing this recipe. I still have some tamarind in my cupboard – and was still wondering what to do with it, since it’s not one of my usual staples..
Oh I love simple little candies like this! I don’t have tamarind pulp, but I do have tamarind paste. Would it work? I have to ask because tamarind is new to me. Thanks!
This brings back memories but the candy I buy at the stores don’t taste the same to me anymore, it has that commercialized flavor. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
i grew up with tamarind candy a “must” bring as pasalubong when i go on vacation in the philippines. my relatives make sure that their sampaloc candy pabaon is sour. they add a bit of soy sauce, brown sugar and a bit of salt altogether in the mixture of very sour sampaloc pulp making sure that the sugar is well cooked (slow cook low fire) to achieve the “tira-tira” like texture.
Do these contain seeds my father lives there I lived there 4years trying to locate a candy for 5 batt that was many years ago 1970 still looking for it
I love these! *franticly runs out of apartment looking for tamarind candy*
★★★★★
thanks for sharing this recipe. I still have some tamarind in my cupboard – and was still wondering what to do with it, since it’s not one of my usual staples..
My mom used to buy this from the corner store all the time. Thanks for sharing a memory, Raymund. 🙂
★★★★★
Hahah I remember making a funny face every time I had this, funny taste but I liked it 😀
Oh I love simple little candies like this! I don’t have tamarind pulp, but I do have tamarind paste. Would it work? I have to ask because tamarind is new to me. Thanks!
★★★★★
This brings back memories but the candy I buy at the stores don’t taste the same to me anymore, it has that commercialized flavor. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
★★★★★
My favorite! 🙂 I’d ask my mom to buy me these when I was young, I never knew there’d be sweet potato in there! 😛 Interesting! 🙂 Sarap!
I think we still have some tamarind in the pantry. The kids would have fun with this one. 🙂
Tamarind candies! You never fail to surprise & delight Raymund!
i grew up with tamarind candy a “must” bring as pasalubong when i go on vacation in the philippines. my relatives make sure that their sampaloc candy pabaon is sour. they add a bit of soy sauce, brown sugar and a bit of salt altogether in the mixture of very sour sampaloc pulp making sure that the sugar is well cooked (slow cook low fire) to achieve the “tira-tira” like texture.
Mmmm, soy sauce is an interesting addition. Got to try that version, thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for sharing
★★★★★
Do these contain seeds my father lives there I lived there 4years trying to locate a candy for 5 batt that was many years ago 1970 still looking for it
Yup it has seeds but it can also be seedless