ALL-IN-ONE INDIAN SAUCE

For all the Indian street food, there is Indian tamarind chutney and mint chutney. I love both, but I was too lazy to make two different sauces, so I combined both to make this one Indian sauce. I make a big batch of this and freeze it. I use it for sandwiches, samosas, chaats, etc. 

INGREDIENTS 

1. 3-4  dates, pitted (40gms.)
2. tamarind pulp to balance the sweetness. (20 gms. wet tamarind)
3. 2 garlic cloves 
4. 1/2 tsp chili powder, cumin powder, coriander powder
5. 4 Tbsp. mint leaves, chopped(2 Tbsp. dried mint leaves)
6. 1 tsp oil
7. salt (start with 1/4 tsp)

METHOD

• Add the pitted dates, mint leaves, tamarind pulp, and salt to the blender and blend to a fine paste. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Add more tamarind pulp to balance out the sweetness of the dates.
• Heat a saucepan, add oil, and saute the chopped garlic until the raw smell goes away. Add the spice powders, saute, and then pour in the blended sauce. Add sufficient salt and bring to a boil. 
• All-in-one Indian sauce ready.

NOTES

• Make sure that the dates are pureed nicely. Since that's the only source of sweetness, you want all of that to come into the sauce and not leave any dates as chunks. 
• Use fresh or dried mint leaves. Don't freeze mint leaves; they don't taste good, and the aftertaste never goes away.