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!

Category: Cocktails, Ginger, India - Tamil Nadu

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Comments

45 Responses to “Gitatini – A Ginger Tamarind Cocktail”

bee
November 22nd, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
Reply

i am so making this. we have all the ingredients. please thank siv from us, and have a great vacation.

Thanks Bee! I’ve passed on the thanks to Siv…
steamy kitchen
November 22nd, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
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wonderful cocktail!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a cocktail with tamarind before. sounds wonderful!

Thanks Jaden!
divya and chaya
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
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Have a great Holiday!!!! Bring loads of wonderful memories with u.

Thanks Divya and Chaya..
Miri
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
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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

Thanks Miri, hope you like it… and yeah, tapas and booze is the main agenda of the trip
Pravs
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
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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.

Thanks Pravs.. Yeah, that is the best way to spend a holiday, watching TV don’t you think?
roopa
November 22nd, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
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wow the panaka looks yum :drool: and have a wonderfull holiday :party:

Thanks Roopa
Meeta
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:03 am
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Sig, I love your creations they are unique and so invigorating. What a fantastic blend of flavors!

Thanks Meeta, though this time it is Siv’s creation I have passed on the compliments
musical
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:23 am
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Gitatini is a beautiful Indian name, Sig! and it must have tasted really zingy as well Martini): Have fun shopping

Thanks musie… Shopping was no fun, I did my first and last black friday midnight madness… it was crazy!!
Raaga
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:44 am
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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

Thanks Raaga, will try and get some good pics… enjoy all your weddings
Srivalli
November 23rd, 2007 @ 1:02 am
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Happy vacation!…will try this for hubby…I prefer pannakam any day!

I love panakkam , a great thirst quencher, but add some vodka, and it is even better
Rachna
November 23rd, 2007 @ 1:33 am
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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…..

Now that sounds like a great drink, vodka with tadka do post the recipe…
Padmaja
November 23rd, 2007 @ 2:21 am
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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!!!

Thanks Padmaja, this is a great drink, tamarind and vodka is a great combo, who knew .
sia
November 23rd, 2007 @ 2:38 am
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so chweet of siv to make this for us Martini):
have wonderful time in spain darling…

Thanks sup… he was more than happy to make this… he loves the fame
Nags
November 23rd, 2007 @ 4:00 am
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i’ve tasted panakam but it definitely didnt look this glamorous. hope you have a great vacation. see ya soon!

thanks Nags
Freya
November 23rd, 2007 @ 4:49 am
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A martini for everyday of the year!! :party:

Hi Freya, nice to see you after a long time… martini for everyday of the year sounds great..just what I need
sra
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:09 am
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Have fun, Sig! Martini):

Thanks Sra
Happy Cook
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:50 am
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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.

yeah, skip the midnight madness… we went shopping at midnight, and it was crazy… people were going nuts, and looong lines everywhere, not my kinda fun
Rajitha
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:54 am
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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

don’t ever go to that sale… I can’t get up early either, but we made it for the midnight sale, NEVER again… there are lines to get into the shops, and lines for billing, dressing room… never seen so many people at one time ever
packing went fine… two big suitcases… couldn’t do it any other way Will miss you too..
Passionate baker
November 23rd, 2007 @ 6:56 am
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: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!!

Welcome Passionate Baker… thanks for dropping by… see you around
richa
November 23rd, 2007 @ 7:03 am
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have a fun trip sweetie
hope u got some good deals at the midnight sale Martini):

Thanks Richa… And we got some good deals at the midnight sale, but it was not worth it Now I know why it is called Midnight Madness
Mishmash!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 7:49 am
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Enjoy ur vacation and come all charged up

Shn

Thanks Shn
Laavanya
November 23rd, 2007 @ 8:43 am
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The name is as delicious as the drink! Sounds Indian too. Thanks Sig for posting this (and Siv for creating it). Lovely.

Thanks Laavanya, I am glad you liked the name I had to think long and hard for that
Shantanu
November 23rd, 2007 @ 9:51 am
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Hmm, seems pretty original. Enjoy your vacation! Look forward to your ‘foodie’ experiences in Spain.

Thanks Shantanu… wish I could go to El Bulli … but I am sure the food is fantastic everywhere
Rina
November 23rd, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
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Perfect Kick drink Sig. :drool:

Thanks Rina
Reena
November 23rd, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
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I am going to make it today Martini): . Have a great vacation, Sig!

Hope you liked it Thanks Reena…
sunita
November 23rd, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
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Have a great holiday…must have sorted out the packing by now

Thanks Sunita, packing is finally done… but no travelling light for me
Cynthia
November 23rd, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
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This is a wicked flavour combo. Pucker up for this one kids!

Thanks Cyn, yep, the flavors are just right in this one…
archana
November 24th, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
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yumm, looks tangy and zingy! have a great time in Spain.

Cant wait to see pics and reviews! :party:

thanks archana, posts coming up soon..
Anita
November 25th, 2007 @ 12:06 am
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Cardamom pods! Marked for this evening!
Kaykat
November 25th, 2007 @ 12:27 am
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*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!

lol, hope your guests like it… we will have to patent the name
Anita
November 25th, 2007 @ 6:40 am
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Can’t believe how great the touch of cardamoms is! Thanks Siv (and Sig)!

You tried it already! glad you liked it…we love cardamom in everything…
Aparna
November 25th, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
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Lovely idea. Have a great holiday.

Thanks Aparna!
sandeepa
November 26th, 2007 @ 9:47 am
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Ohhhhhhhhhh I had thought you had already left after the quail. How did I miss all these. have a fabulous trip sweetie

I have been in vacation mood for long, I started talking about it way before the actual trip
mandira
November 26th, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
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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

Hope you are feeling better now Mandira, that really sucks..
Archana
November 28th, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
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Enjoy a splendid vaccation, come back with snaps and stories.

Thanks Archana!
Rajitha
November 29th, 2007 @ 5:08 am
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sig…congrats on winning the book girl Yes): ..just had to tell u even tho u are in Spain…

Thanks Rajitha, I can’t wait to get my hands on that book
sandeepa
November 29th, 2007 @ 6:48 am
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ohhhhhhhhhhh rajitha did it already…same news..Congrats

Thanks Sandeepa… yipppeee
Bharathy
November 30th, 2007 @ 3:31 am
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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!

oh you mean for think spice event… I already sent my ginger entry weeks back
richa
November 30th, 2007 @ 9:39 am
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hey sweetie, great news waiting for ya when u get back
congrats on the winning entry!

Thanks Richa… it is exciting
sagari
December 1st, 2007 @ 7:30 am
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very new and wonderfullllll recipe

Thanks Sagari!
Kristina
August 12th, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
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Hi, I will try this cocktail at my curryparty. Please advise what to do with instant tamarind. (thats all I get here). Thanks, Kristina

Hi Kristina, by instant tamarind, do you mean the tamarind paste? If that is the case, try 2 tbsps mixed in enough water to form four cups of liquid. Make sure the tamarind is mixed well with the water, you might want to heat it up a bit to dissolve it completely, and then cool the liquid down. We haven’t tried it with tamarind paste, so I suggest that you give it a try before the party to make sure it tastes good… Good luck with the curry party
Kristina
August 31st, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
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Thank you, tomorrow is the big try !!
Ann
March 10th, 2012 @ 7:35 pm
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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!