Gitatini – A Ginger Tamarind Cocktail
Posted on | November 22, 2007 | 45 Comments |
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I forgot the last time we were in town for Thanksgiving and Black Friday. For those outside United States, Black Friday is the day after thanksgiving, the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Most stores open very early in the morning, some even open at Midnight, and has amazing sales. People line up before the stores open to get to the limited doorbuster deals. I have never been to a Black Friday sale, I always thought people must be crazy to go shopping at odd hours in the cold, and I was never in town to even consider it. But since we are not leaving for Spain till Saturday, we are actually thinking of hitting the Seattle Premium outlet mall at midnight. Thanksgiving day was just another day for us, I actually spent the whole day in bed, watching TV, getting some much needed R&R before the vacation.
Before we leave, I wanted to post this cocktail I mentioned in my last post. How do you like the clever name – Ginger Tamarind Martini – Gitatini. It has a nice Indian ring to it, right? Yeah, I came up with the name all on my own
. The recipe is all Siv’s, it is based on a traditional Tamil drink called Paanakam.
Ingredients
(for 6 drinks)
- 4 cups tamarind extract (see below)
- 12 cardamom pods
- 1/4 tsp dried ginger powder
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 cups vodka
- Ice cubes
Method
Take about 3 tbsp seedless tamarind (available in Asian stores), and soak it in about 1 cup of water for five minutes. Squish the tamarind with your hands to get the extract out, add more water and repeat the process to finally form 4 cups of tamarind extract.
Place the tamarind extract, crushed cardamom pods, ginger powder, brown sugar and vodka in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well to combine. Strain into chilled martini glasses, and enjoy the delicious Gitatini.
See you all in about two weeks. Adios!
Comments
45 Responses to “Gitatini – A Ginger Tamarind Cocktail”
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November 22nd, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
i am so making this. we have all the ingredients. please thank siv from us, and have a great vacation.
November 22nd, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
wonderful cocktail!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a cocktail with tamarind before. sounds wonderful!
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Have a great Holiday!!!! Bring loads of wonderful memories with u.
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
Tomorrow is Saturday!!! Im making this tomorrow definitely, thanks to Siv for coming up with this – Panakkam with a kick
Happy vacations and safe travels! have a great time and come back with lots of pics and food stories! Kick back some tequila and tapas for me!
Miri
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
I will def try this drink..very indian with the name and with the ingredients..except for vodka
Happy Thanks giving. Like you i spend watching tv
Have a great trip to spain and back. Seeya till then.
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
wow the panaka looks yum :drool:
and have a wonderfull holiday :party:
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:03 am
Sig, I love your creations they are unique and so invigorating. What a fantastic blend of flavors!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Gitatini is a beautiful Indian name, Sig! and it must have tasted really zingy as well
Martini): Have fun shopping
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:44 am
Lovely recipe… glad you got Siv to make it again. Sachin will love this too… will try it soon
Have a blast in SPain… will wait for pics when you get back.
Hugs
November 23rd, 2007 @ 1:02 am
Happy vacation!…will try this for hubby…I prefer pannakam any day!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 1:33 am
oh i love this drink…i know M will love this… which encourages me to post M’s vodka with tadka…. heee all the best for the trip…..
November 23rd, 2007 @ 2:21 am
hey Sig, I am going to try this cocktail, love all amazing things going into into the vodka and mainily that tamarind!!!
Have a great holiday!!!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 2:38 am
so chweet of siv to make this for us
Martini):
have wonderful time in spain darling…
November 23rd, 2007 @ 4:00 am
i’ve tasted panakam but it definitely didnt look this glamorous. hope you have a great vacation. see ya soon!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 4:49 am
A martini for everyday of the year!! :party:
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:09 am
Have fun, Sig!
Martini):
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:50 am
Sig this is a wonderful drink. We make a lot of drinks with vodka but never ever had tamarind to it.
If i tell my hubby i want to go for shopping by midnight he will say i am getting crazy
Have a nice holiday in spain.
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:54 am
that drink truely looks awesome..i can imagine the taste..girl u are married to a talented dude..good for u..:) thnks siv for the recipe
Martini): ….and i have never been to that sale..i cannot imagine getting up that early esp. when it is soo cold….
and have a fantastic trip to spain honey..and bring back tons of pics of u and the food
..will u try snout??..and how was ur packing ..hope u could fit it all…ms.glamourous
..will miss u….hugs
November 23rd, 2007 @ 6:56 am
:drool: Clever name, great idea & cool drink! Got here off Aparna’s blog…and am glad I did! m off to browse around somemore…Thank u Sig!!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 7:03 am
have a fun trip sweetie
Martini):
hope u got some good deals at the midnight sale
November 23rd, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Enjoy ur vacation and come all charged up
Shn
November 23rd, 2007 @ 8:43 am
The name is as delicious as the drink!
Sounds Indian too. Thanks Sig for posting this (and Siv for creating it). Lovely.
November 23rd, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Hmm, seems pretty original. Enjoy your vacation! Look forward to your ‘foodie’ experiences in Spain.
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Perfect Kick drink Sig. :drool:
November 23rd, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
I am going to make it today
Martini): . Have a great vacation, Sig!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Have a great holiday…must have sorted out the packing by now
November 23rd, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
This is a wicked flavour combo. Pucker up for this one kids!
November 24th, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
yumm, looks tangy and zingy! have a great time in Spain.
Cant wait to see pics and reviews! :party:
November 25th, 2007 @ 12:06 am
Cardamom pods! Marked for this evening!
November 25th, 2007 @ 12:27 am
*drool*! I could use a yummy Gitatini right now! I’m totally making this for my next party and I’m going to label it ‘Sig’n'Siv’s Gitatini’ – that truly sounds like a song
Yay!
Have a fabulous trip, amigo!
November 25th, 2007 @ 6:40 am
Can’t believe how great the touch of cardamoms is! Thanks Siv (and Sig)!
November 25th, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Lovely idea. Have a great holiday.
November 26th, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Ohhhhhhhhhh I had thought you had already left after the quail. How did I miss all these. have a fabulous trip sweetie
November 26th, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
have a wonderful vacation Sig and thanks for this delicious cocktail… will be trying it as soon as my throat is able to handle it
November 28th, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
Enjoy a splendid vaccation, come back with snaps and stories.
November 29th, 2007 @ 5:08 am
sig…congrats on winning the book girl
Yes): ..just had to tell u even tho u are in Spain…
November 29th, 2007 @ 6:48 am
ohhhhhhhhhhh rajitha did it already…same news..Congrats
November 30th, 2007 @ 3:31 am
The coktail lady is back with her glass
Martini):
…Oh yeaaaaaah panagam !I almost forgot about it…that is also a wonderful entry..hmm now the time is up I think!
November 30th, 2007 @ 9:39 am
hey sweetie, great news waiting for ya when u get back
congrats on the winning entry!
December 1st, 2007 @ 7:30 am
very new and wonderfullllll recipe
August 12th, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
Hi, I will try this cocktail at my curryparty. Please advise what to do with instant tamarind. (thats all I get here). Thanks, Kristina
August 31st, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
Thank you, tomorrow is the big try !!
March 10th, 2012 @ 7:35 pm
Hi! Thanks for your recipe! I wasn’t crazy about the vodka, but you have definitely inspired me to experiment further with tamarind mixes. I’m looking forward to checking out more of your recipes!