Tamarind Chutney

Ingredients:

1 large lemon-sized ball of tamarind
1/2 cup molasses or brown sugar
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup finely chopped pitted dates
1 1/2 tsp ground roasted cumin seeds
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp dry ginger powder
1/4 - 1/2 tsp red pepper (cayenne)
1 tsp salt 1 tsp black salt (optional)

Put the tamarind in a bowl and cover with 1 cup of boiling water. Let soak for a half hour. Mash the pulp with the back of a spoon. Add 1 1/2 cups of boiling water, mix well, and let stand until lukewarm. When cool enough to handle, mash the pulp again for a minute. Strain the juices through a sieve into another bowl. Discard the fibrous residue. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and let rest at least 4 hours at room temperature.