Papad -An Important Indian Meal Accompaniment

Do you know what a real Papad is? It is a thin wafer made of urad dal (an Indian lentil). It is also called the Indian flat bread. The dough is seasoned with various spices, salt and herbs. The product is free from gluten, very rich in protein and fiber. The dough is quite dry and hard. It is then pounded with vegetable oil until it is soft and pliable; made into small balls and rolled into round wafers. These round wafers, also known as pappadums, can also be made of fragrant spiced lentil flour or rice flour or tapioca pearls.
The South Indian papadams or appalams are smaller than the North Indian. North Indian papads may be roasted or deep fried but the South Indian or Madras appalams are best eaten fried.

Papads or Papadams is an essential part of Indian cuisine. The Chinese use rice and wheat flour and transform them into many, many ingenious products. India took the lentils and did the same.

It is used as an accompaniment to an Indian meal and can also be eaten as a snack. A dried Papad is a lentil chip studded with Indian spices that comes alive when grilled or deep fried.