Papadam

Papadam is a loanword from Tamil , and is likely related to Sanskrit , meaning a flattened disc described in early Jain and Buddhist literature. ==Regional variations==

papadam from Bengaluru Papad recipes vary from region to region and from household to household. They are typically made from a flour or paste made 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==

File:Pappadum.tif|Pappadam File:Rice papad.jpg|Rice papadam File:Urad Indian Papad.jpg|Uradal papadam File:Roasting Papadums.jpg|Fire-toasting papadam File:Nepali Khana.jpg|A Nepali thali with papad File:Raw Jack Fruit Papad.jpg|Raw jackfruit papad in coastal Karnataka File:Papadum at restaurant Milan Nepal.jpg|Papadam with chutney served as an appetizer at a South Asian style restaurant in Finland File:Urad papad, microwaved.jpg|Microwaved papad texture ==See also==