Tamarind can be used in sauces, drinks, desserts, marinades and so much more. (It’s also an essential ingredient in pad Thai.) But nothing beats eating it straight from the pod if you ask us. If you ...

Place the tamarind paste, maple syrup, soy sauce, and olive oil in blender, and purée until smooth. Taste for seasoning. Pour into a bowl, and set aside. May be made ahead of time and refrigerated.

Walk into almost any taqueria and you can get agua de tamarindo, a refreshingly tangy Mexican drink made from tamarind fruit. But tamarind is not just Mexican, and tamarindo is not just a drink.