Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tamarind and Palm Sugar Popsicles - Off to Malaysia (Again?)


I am not a big fan of summertime's heat, it gets me sweaty from doing...even absolutely nothing. However, summer heat is the perfect excuse reason for everything icy.
Ice cream? I like.
Sorbet? Even better.
Shaved ice with syrup and coconut milk? Totally.
Icy stares thrown at uncles who gawk at your legs/chest? When else are we allowed to be so bitchy? Secretly enjoyable.
and above all...
POPSICLES!!!
Refreshing, thirst quenching, fruity, icy cold goodness on a stick, in a hot summer afternoon. Perfection.

In Summer, I prefer fruity treats over their creamy chocolatey cousins. Lemon, lime, orange, berries...nice, but for me, it's time to get a bit more exotic and well...Indonesian :)

Tamarind and Palm Sugar Popsicles

Recipe
- A couple of spoonfuls of tamarind paste
- A few pieces of palm sugar (I used about 4 small pieces)
- Hot water

Boil water in a pot, add tamarind paste and palm sugar bit by bit and taste until you reach the perfect balance between the tang of tamarind and the sticky coconutey sweetness of palm sugar. Strain into another pot and let cool. Pour into popsicle mold and freeze.


To pull out the popsicles from the mold, dip them into a bowl of hot water for just a few seconds. They will slide out gently.


Lick, bite, suck.
Hear the sizzle as our bodies cool down.

Talk about heat, I am off to somewhere hot, Malaysia (again) for work, and I heard it is nowhere near any good food. Hello days of cup noodles and soyjoy....hope I could squeeze in a few moments of deliciousness. Wish me luck, and see you soon, my hungry monkeys! Stay yummy.

20 comments:

  1. deethaMay 27, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    ih, tutupe kok lucu sih.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 27, 2009 at 4:50 PM

    hello rita...whr's the place in msia if i may ask?i m fr msia too


    rgds
    ssl

    ReplyDelete
  3. che zaidMay 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM

    HI Rit,
    Is sooooo cooolllll, wanna have some as nowadays KL so hot!!!dont forget to get some cooking paste when u visit M'sia, kay..

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 28, 2009 at 4:26 PM

    remember to get some Mamee mee goreng instant noodle too...sedap! hehehe

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  5. NingMay 28, 2009 at 9:42 PM

    Have a safe and delicious trip! Love the popsicles! I have to make some now...

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  6. AnonymousMay 28, 2009 at 10:14 PM

    I am just surprised that you mentioned Malaysia is no where any good food.

    There is plenty of good food in Malaysia, just make sure you ask the right person.

    Are you not from Indonesia? Indonesia is just as hot as Malaysia. Perhaps, even hotter.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Screamin' MamaMay 29, 2009 at 1:32 AM

    I bet my kids would love those popsicles! I will have to try that this summer.

    Love Malaysia! I will alway remember the tandori chicken and fresh naan bread straight from the clay ovens in the open air restaurants.

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  8. EatTravelEatMay 29, 2009 at 1:00 PM

    Only three ingredients! Wow... and it look so delicious too. I need to get a popsicle mold someday so I can make popsicles.

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  9. UnknownMay 30, 2009 at 3:47 PM

    hi guys, thanks for dropping by...i am here in shah alam ^_^

    and good news is...PLENTY OF GOOD FOOD AROUND HERE and more importantly, I HAVE THE FREAKIN TIME TO TASTE SOME (I thought I wouldn't have any chance! ^_^)

    to anonymous, i meant, i heard from my colleagues that there will be no food around this venue, but obviously she was wrong. i am from indonesia and it is hot there indeed ;)

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  10. daphneMay 30, 2009 at 11:09 PM

    oo.. hv a great time there!!! bring back photos- i always love malaysia's food!

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  11. AnonymousJune 1, 2009 at 12:17 PM

    hi rita...you should try this 'nasi ayam kampung' at the following address:

    Shah Alam:
    Restoran A. Hassan
    Jalan Lawan Pedang 13/27
    Section 13 Shah Alam, Selangor

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beachlover's KitchenJune 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    oh!! I wanna to go too!! miss my hometown!! your popsicles sound interesting!!

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  13. Babe_KLJune 3, 2009 at 12:34 PM

    gosh this really brings back lots of childhood memories :p they usually come in a long plastic bag about an inch in diameter :D

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  14. ladyironchefJune 3, 2009 at 8:32 PM

    wah the popsicles really brought back memories for me, so nostalgic!

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  15. JoJune 3, 2009 at 11:19 PM

    Strange that I've never tried this before. Very intriguing recipe. I just realized that I have almost the same popsicle moulds that you have. My hometown is KL and there is definitely food aplenty there.

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  16. SomaJune 4, 2009 at 2:52 AM

    Congratulations! That pic in DMBLGIT is absolutley stunning!

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  17. AnonymousJune 4, 2009 at 10:36 AM

    Es asem manis...:) asik pas summer pasti! btw, selamat udah menang di DMBLGIT.

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  18. AnonymousNovember 16, 2009 at 9:33 AM

    I'd like to make this recipe, but I haven't any palm sugar. What quantity of granulated (white) sugar should I use?

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  19. UnknownNovember 16, 2009 at 9:46 AM

    hi, hmmm i think it is not gonna be the same without palm sugar, because palm sugar has this....coconuty, earthy qualities to it...

    if you're using white sugar, i am not sure how much exactly you should use, but you can try adding sugar bit by bit, and keep tasting it, until you achieve the perfect balance of sour and sweetness. do make it a little on the sweet side, as the sweetness will be reduced after freezing.

    hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
  20. ZhangAugust 2, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    we have the same popsicle mold. bought it from handyman.

    www.choozhang.blogspot.com
    www.badkitteh.com

    ReplyDelete