Indian Pappadam Crackers With Curried Cashew Dip Recipes

PAPADUM (LENTIL CRACKERS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix the flour, black pepper, cumin and salt.
• Add the water and knead the dough by hand until it is smooth.
• Depending on the flour you may need to add more or less water to reach the desired consistency. It should be wet enough to hold together but not too sticky.
• Divide the dough into 12 to 15 balls and roll out one ball at a time to a very thin round layer about 1/8 inch thick or use your pasta roller. Then place them on a slightly oiled surface oiled or silpat lined cookie sheets.
• Place the papadums in the oven preheated to about 200 F for 60-90 minutes.
• Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
• Fry in a non-stick skillet in a small amount of oil (I prefer to dry fry them) until they are crispy but do not let them brown.
• Serve warm. They can also be made ahead and then be crisped up in a warm oven before serving.

INDIAN PAPPADAM CRACKERS WITH CURRIED CASHEW DIP

Steps:

• Deep-fry, toast over an open flame, or microwave the flat round disks following the cooking instructions on the package.
• Put cashews in a bowl, cover with water and refrigerate. Let soak 2 to 4 hours. (see note)
• Heat the oil in a small skillet. Add the shallot and cook and stir until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in curry powder and cumin and cook another minute. Let cool.
• Drain and rinse the soaked cashews. Put in a blender. Add lemon juice, salt, ginger, chile, cooled curried shallots and 1/3 cup of the water.
• Blend until very smooth, adding more water, a tablespoon at a time, as needed for a smooth puree. Stop to scrape down the sides of the container.
• Taste and add more salt if you like. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cilantro. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

INDIA-STYLE CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius.
• In a medium bowl, mix rice and wheat flours, baking powder, spices, chopped curry leaf, sugar and salt.
• Drizzle melted butter over the flour mixture. Slowly add (coconut) milk/cream and stir with a fork. Add a bit more if necessary to achieve a consistency that enables you to bind the flours without getting too moist.
• Line an oven tray with a baking sheet. Take a quarter of the dough and press flat between two sheets of baking parchment. Use rolling pin to flatten to 1mm thin.
• Peel off top sheet and place bottom sheet containing rolled dough in a baking tray. Use a pizza cutter or wavy roller to cut dough into strips (they'll come apart after baking).
• Bake in the middle of oven for 25-35 minutes until the crackers are lightly browned and crispy when cooled on a wire rack.
• Store in an air-tight container if the air around you is humid.

PAPADAMS

Steps:

• Stir together the flour, pepper, ground cumin seed, and salt in a large bowl or in the food processor; mix thoroughly until the spices are evenly distributed.
• Add the garlic and mix well.
• Add enough of the water to form a dough that will hold together in a cohesive ball; if necessary, add up to 1 additional tablespoon water.
• The dough should be fairly stiff and dry; if it is too wet, it will not roll well.
• Knead the dough for about 5 minutes by hand or pulse for about 15 seconds in the food processor; the dough should be smooth.
• With your hands, shape the dough into a cylinder or log about 2 inches thick and 6 inches long.
• With a sharp knife, cut the cylinder into 1/2-inch thick slices.
• The next step uses oil, so do not use your pastry cloth and rolling pin sleeve.
• Place each slice on a lightly oiled surface.
• Lightly oil the top of the slice and then roll out into a very thin circle about 6 or 7 inches in diameter.
• Papadams must be rolled extremely thin, maximum 1/16 inch.
• If the dough sticks to your rolling pin, gently pull it off.
• Dust the tops of each papadam with cayenne pepper.
• Using a metal spatula to loosen the edges of the papadams from the rolling surface, carefully place them on large baking sheets.
• The traditional method for preparing and frying papadams is described below; you can also bake them in a 300F oven for about 15 to 25 minutes, or until crisp and dry.
• The cooking time may vary beyond this range depending upon the thickness and moisture in the rolled dough.
• Cool them on a rack.
• To prepare the papadams in an authentic manner, don't bake them; first allow them to dry by leaving them in the sun for a few hours or by placing them in a very low oven (less than 200F) for 1 to 2 hours, turning occasionally.
• Dry the papadams until they are just slightly flexible and show no moisture; they should not brown or bake, however.
• At this point, the papadams may be stacked flat and stored in an airtight container until needed; they will keep for months if stored properly.
• When ready to serve, heat about 1/8 inch of oil in a large skillet; the oil should be hot, but not smoking; a drop of water flicked into the skillet should sizzle immediately.
• One at a time, drop the papadams into the hot oil.
• Turn the papadam when it begins to curl at the edges; it will quickly fry and become crisp.
• Remove it before it turns brown.
• Cool and drain the papadams on paper towels and eat them immediately.