Homemade Sampalok Candy Guide

Make your own Sampalok Candy at home! With a delicious medley of sweet, sour, and salty flavors, this tamarind candy is seriously addictive. These tropical treats are easy to make and require just four ingredients, making them great for gift-giving or for any time you need a fruity treat!

Ingredients and What You'll Need

To prepare this authentic Filipino treat, gather the following components:

• Tamarind pods: use ripe fruit, not unripe ones used for sinigang.
• Water: to soften the fruit and draw out the pulp.
• Sugar: adds sweetness.
• Salt: balances the sweetness.

Below are the specific measurements used in this recipe:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps to create your tamarind candy with the perfect sweet, sour, and salty balance:

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
2. Hull the tamarind, removing the outer shell and inner strings to separate the fruit.
3. In a wide pan over medium heat, combine tamarind pulp, water, 1 ½ cups of the sugar and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil.
4. Lower heat and continue to cook, stirring and mashing with the back of a spoon, for about 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is very thick and sticky.
5. Using a teaspoon or small cookie scoop, scoop tamarind mixture and drop in a single layer on prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each mound.
6. Refrigerate for about 1 to 2 hours or until completely cooled and slightly hardened.
7. On a large plate, combine the remaining ½ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon salt.
8. Using the palm of hands, shape each tamarind mound into balls. Roll in sugar and salt mixture to fully coat.
9. Wrap about three to four pieces in cellophane or store in an airtight container.

Helpful Tips for Success

Our recipe is pure tamarind pulp and sugar, so the resulting product is softer in texture than some commercial versions. Refrigerate the cooked mixture until completely cool to make shaping and rolling easier.

• Use a small cookie scoop to portion the candies quickly and evenly.
• Add chili powder to the sugar-salt coating mixture for a delicious hint of spice and to add a kick of heat!
• Note: In commercial preparations, adding mashed sweet potatoes (kamote) to extend servings economically is customary.

How to Store

Proper storage ensures your sweets stay fresh for weeks:

• Wrap three to four pieces of sampalok candy in cellophane and place in a resealable bag or container with a lid.
• You can also store them, unwrapped, in an airtight container.
• They'll keep at room temperature for about 1 week or in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.

Nutritional Information

The following table provides the nutritional breakdown per serving: