India's Crunchy Appetizer- The Papad (Papadums)

How a Papad/ Papadum is Made -

Papads can be made of a variety of different lentils, chickpea, gram or rice flour. There are even some types of Papad made from jackfruit or and sabudana (Tapioca). 

While now a days Papads are manufactured by machinery, the traditional way of making papads by hand is still hugely popular in India and is a source of employment among women in rural areas.

Water is added to the flour of lentils with salt, spices and sodium bicarbonate and mixed to form a dough. After resting the dough for a little while,  it is then rolled in to long sausages and then using a thread small sections are cut off forming similar sized round pieces of dough. These round balls are then rolled paper thin until you can almost see through them. The papads are then sun dried and packed for selling.

How to Cook a Papad -

A papadum can be cooked by deep-frying, roasting over an open flame, toasting or even microwaving depending on the desired texture.

Cooking papads over an open flame (gas stove)

- grab a papad with some tongs

- hold it just above the flame moving it around so it cooks evenly (take barely seconds)  

- flip the papad over and cook the other side.

- the cooked papad will be non greasy with little black spots with a crunchy roasted flavor.

Deep frying papads in oil

Papads can be deep fried in oil. Sunflower/ vegetable oil is preferable. When the oil is heated the papad is slid into the oil carefully one at a time, it barely takes a few seconds to cook and come up in the oil and should be taken out using tongs and is best when the oil is blotted by placing them on paper.

Cooking a Papad in the Microwave

- Put 1 papad in the microwave oven.

-  Start out and cook the papad for 15 seconds. Stop the oven and flip the papad to the other side and cook for 15 more seconds. Some lower powered ovens need a total of 60 seconds to cook the papad. 30 seconds on each side.

Papad Recipes

Masala Papad-

A simple fried or roasted papad topped with an Indian salsa. Served popularly as an appetizer in restaurants.

 Ingredients:

• 1 Papad
• 1 tbsp Onion (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp Tomato (finely chopped)
• ½ tbsp Coriander Leaves (finely chopped)
• ¼ tsp Lemon Juice or Amchur Powder
• 1/4 tsp Chili Powder
• Salt to taste

Method:

Roast the papad on high flame carefully and lay it on a palate. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, except papad. Spread the mixture on the papad. Serve immediately before the papad gets soft.

Papad ki Sabzi

In Rajasthan Papads are used rather unusually to make a dish where in they are soaked in a tangy gravy. The Papads take on an almost velvety texture when they absorb the sauce making for an interesting dish.

Ingredients:

2-3 medium sized papads
1 tbsp curds
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1-2 pinches turmeric
1-2 pinches asafoetida
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 mustard seeds
1 tbsp ghee
1 tsp chopped coriander
Salt To Taste
1 cup water

Method:

- Break the papads into 1 inch squares.

- Heat ghee in a saucepan, add seeds.

- Add asafoetida, chilli powder and curds together. Stir till yogurt turn brown

- Add turmeric, water and salt. Boil.

- Add papads and coriander.

- Boil for 3-4 minutes.

Serve papad ki sabzi hot with chappatis.

Related Guides & Articles

Lentils (Dal) The World's Healthiest Food

10 Rajasthani Dishes to best sample Rajasthani Cuisine

The Magic of Parathas

Demystifing Indian Desserts and Sweets

Butter Chicken Recipe and Video

Chatpati Chutney and delicious Ready-Powder recipes

Southern Dosa Delights

The Indian Veg Pancake - Uttapam

Lentils(Dals), Pulses and Beans used in Indian Cooking

Monsoon Cravings