Papadam

"Papadom" redirects here. For the 2009 film, see Papadom (film).

"Appalam" redirects here. For the 2011 film, see Appalam (film).

Papadam

Fire-roasted papadam
Alternative names	Papad papar papadum appadam pampas happala poppadam poppadom appalam pappadam pampad puppodum pappadum pompadom
Course	Appetizer or side dish
Main ingredients	Flour from lentils black gram chickpeas potato sago rice
Variations	Rice papad tapioca papad sago papad potato papad masala papad garlic papad ginger paped jackfruit papad
Cookbook: Papadam   Media: Papadam

A papadam (also spelled poppadom, among other variants), also known as papad, is a snack that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Dough of black gram bean flour is either deep fried or cooked with dry heat (flipped over an open flame) until crunchy. Other flours made from lentils, chickpeas, rice, tapioca, millet or potato are also used. Papadam is typically served as an accompaniment to a meal in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean or as an appetizer, often with a dip such as chutneys, or toppings such as chopped onions and chili peppers, or it may be used as an ingredient in curries.

Etymology

Papadam is a loanword from Tamil பப்படம் pappaṭam, and is likely derived from Sanskrit पर्पट parpaṭa, meaning a flattened disc described in early Jain and Buddhist literature. Papad is known by several names in the various languages of India, e.g. पापड़ pāpaṛ in Hindi; అప్పడం appaḍaṁ in Telugu; அப்பளம் appaḷam or பப்படம் pappaṭam in Tamil; ಹಪ್ಪಳ happaḷa in Kannada; පපඩම් papaḍam in Sinhala; പപ്പടം pappaṭam in Malayalam; पापड pāpaḍ in Marathi; ਪਾਪੜ pāpaṛ in Punjabi; પાપડ pāpaḍ in Gujarati; ପାମ୍ପଡ pāmpaḍa in Odia; and পাপড় pāpaḍ in Assamese.

Regional variations

Jackfruit papadam from Bengaluru

Different types of papads are sold at stores.

Papad recipes vary from region to region and from household to household. They are typically made from a flour or paste derived from lentils, chickpeas, black gram, rice, or potatoes.

Salt and peanut oil are added to make a dough, which can be flavored with seasonings such as chili, cumin, garlic, or black pepper. Sometimes, baking soda or slaked lime are also added. The dough is shaped into thin, round flatbreads, dried (traditionally in the sun), and can be cooked by deep frying, roasting over an open flame, toasting, or microwaving, depending on the desired texture.

In most Indian restaurants around the world, they are served as an appetizer with dips, which often include mango chutney, lime pickle, onion chutney, and raita. Masala papad with sev, onion, tomato and coriander leaves is one of India's most popular appetizers.

Ingredients and preparation

Papadam can be prepared from different ingredients and methods. One popular recipe uses flour ground from hulled split black gram mixed with black pepper, salt, a small amount of vegetable oil and a food-grade alkali, and the mixture is kneaded. A well-kneaded dough is then flattened into very thin rounds and then dried and stored for later preparation and consumption. It may also contain rice, jackfruit, sago, etc., as main ingredients.

Cracked black pepper, red chili powder, asafoetida, cumin or sesame seeds are often used as flavoring agents. Papadam is also made from rice flakes, ragi or horsegram.

Gallery

• 
  Appadam
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  Rice papadam
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  Uradal papadam
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  Fire-toasting papadam
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  A Nepali thali with papad
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  Raw jackfruit papad in coastal Karnataka
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  Papadams with chutney are often served as an appetizer at South Asian restaurants around the world.
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  Microwaved papad texture

See also

• Indian bread – Wide variety of flatbreads and crêpes which are an integral part of Indian cuisine
• Sandige – Fried snack, originating from the Indian subcontinent

External links

• Media related to Papadams at Wikimedia Commons