Papadum: Encyclopedia - Papadum

Papadum

Papad (also papadum, papadam, and appalam) is an Indian and Sri Lankan flatbread. Typically, it is prepared using black gram bean flour, rice flour, or lentil flour with salt and peanut oil added. The ingredients are made into a dough and formed into a thin, round shape similar to a tortilla. As the dough is prepared, the papadum can be seasoned with a variety of different ingredients such as chilies, cumin, garlic, black pepper, or other spices.

Papadums are cooked by deep-frying in oil, which causes them to expand and crispen. They may also be cooked by roasting them over an open flame, or even in a toaster oven. Depending on the cooking method they may be either soft and moist or crisp in texture.

Most often served as a complement to a main dish, they are also eaten as a snack or as an appetizer to be topped with chutney, various dips or salsas. Commonly made in different sizes, the smaller ones are for snacks and the larger variety may be used as a food wrap.

Papadum - Recipe

Ingredients:

• 8 cups lentil flour

• 1 ts cracked black pepper

• 1 ts ground cumin seeds

• 1/2 ts salt

• 1/4 cup water (or more if needed)

• oil for frying

For 10 to 15 servings:

1. Mix flour, pepper, cumin and salt.

2. Add water and knead the dough until it is smooth. You may have to add some water, depending on the flour.

3. Split the dough into 10 or 15 balls.

4. Roll out one ball at a time to a very thin round layer on a slightly oiled surface.

5. Dry the papadums in the oven for an hour (at about 100C or 200F).

6. Right now you can keep them in an airtight container or something.

7. Fry the papadums in oil until they are crispy (not too brown!).

Categories: Indian cuisine | Breads

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Papadum", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki