Poppadom is a crispy, crunchy, and easy-to-make Indian appetizer dish. It is also called Pappadam, Appalam, or Papad in different parts of India. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Poppadom in 2 ways, both in oil and microwave with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try at home. I have also shared a detailed video to make the cooking process visually clear. This Poppadom is the best homemade starter dish that can be prepared in under 10 minutes and pairs great with dips like Samosa Sauce, Guacamole, or as an accompaniment with Rice, Sambar, Rasam, or Veg Curries.
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What is Poppadom?
Poppadom is a popular and authentic Indian starter dish. It usually looks like a small circular disc made with chickpea, urad dhal, rice, or tapioca flour. Poppadom has also got different names like Pappadum, Papad, Appalam, Happala, Appadam, and Pampada in different parts of India, as they are diverse in culture, tradition, and language. In some parts of India, people also use it to make curry out of it.
Even though most of the stores carry ready-to-eat papads, making them at home is bliss. Yes, apart from the ready-to-eat papads, Indian grocery stores also sell uncooked pappadums. You can fry this kind of Pappadums easily in oil or the microwave at home.
Here in this post, I have shared how to make Pappadams in oil as well as in the microwave using store brought uncooked papads. I have also shared a basic recipe if you are interested to make these crispies from scratch.
Note that making the appalam or papad from scratch needs to be sun-dried for hours to achieve the desired results. I would recommend the store brought uncooked ones if you are not interested in making them from scratch.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this Poppadom or Pappadam is simple. And they should be easily available in Indian grocery stores around.
- Plain Uncooked Papads - I have used plain Pappadums here but you can also use masala papad, rice papds, or kerala papadums whatever variant you like
- Oil - You can use any cooking oil that has high smoke point. Most of the cooking oil works good for this recipe
Homemade Poppadom from scratch
Even though it makes life easy to get poppadoms in stores and fry it at home, here in this section, I have shared a basic recipe to make this Pappadum from scratch in case you are looking for one. Hope this helps!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Urad Dal Powder
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ½ cup Oil
- Baking Soda, a pinch
- ½ tsp Cumin Seeds
- Water to knead
Process
- In a bowl add, urad dhal, salt, cumin seeds and mix well
- Pour in the water gradually, and start kneading a tight dough
- Pour the oil and knead again until the dough reaches soft and smooth consistency
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a thin sheet. Cut the rolled into circular small shaped disc uing a cookie cutter or circular bottle cap
- Spread the disc in a clean cotton or parchment paper and allow it to sun dry for 2 to 4 hours
- Store the dried Poppadoms in air tight container. Fry this homemade Poppadoms whenever you crave for a crispy accompaniment for your food
How to make Poppadom?
Following are the high-level instructions to make this Pappadam recipe but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, Please check out the recipe card below.
- Method 1 Frying in Oil - Heat the oil in a pan and add a small pice of papad to check whether it is hot. The papad pice will puffs up immediately if it is hot. Add a single disc one at time and fry until it turns crisp on both the sides
- Method 2 Microwave - Spread a small amount oil on both the side of Poppadom and place it in microwave safe plate. Now microwae the pappadum in the microwave for utp 45 to 60 seconds or until it turns crispy
- Serve - Serve this crispy Pappadams with Indian main course meals as accompaniment or starter
Tips
- Papad Options - I have used plain Pappadums to make this dish but you can also use masala, rice, potato, or cumin papads
- Microwave Time - My papad fried in 45 seconds in the microwave but it may vary based on the pappadums we use. Usually, a single disc will fry from 45 to 60 seconds
- Homemade Papads - The homemade recipe shared in the post is made with urad dal and you can also use chickpea flour instead
Papadum Calories
The Poppadom recipe I have shared contains 39 calories per serving for the microwave version. But the Pappadums fried in oil have 60 calories per serving and it is just an estimation by the nutrition calculator. This calorie is based on the uncooked store-bought papads and it may vary for other variant pappadums. You could check the detailed nutritional information in the recipe card below.
Storage Suggestions
You can store the fried Poppadoms at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 days and homemade uncooked ones for 2 to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These Pappadums can be served as a starter or appetizer for your main course meal like Rice, Sambar, Rasam, or similar dishes.
You could also find similar recipes below and more at Appetizer recipes.
Poppadoms Recipe video
I have shared a detailed video of making this Poppadom or Pappadum both in oil and microwave below that I hope will help you to make a crispy starter at home. This recipe is available in story format as well.
📖 Recipe
How to Make Poppadom (2 Ways)
Poppadom is a crispy, crunchy, and easy-to-make Indian starter or appetizer dish. It is also called Pappadam, Appalam, or Papad in different parts of India. It is traditionally made with urad dal, chickpea, rice, or potato flour which is kneaded, rolled to a circular shape, and then dried in sunlight. The dried Poppadoms are then fried in oil and served as a starter or accompaniment for a meal.
Ingredients
- 4 Poppadom
- 1 tsp Oil, for the microwave method
- ½ cup Oil, for pan-frying
Instructions
To make Poppadom in oil
- In a pan with medium heat, pour oil and allow it to warm up. Add a small piece of papad to check whether the oil is hot. The pappadam should immediately rise if the oil is hot
- Add a Pappadum one at a time and fry until it turns crisp on both sides
- Drain and remove from the oil. Now the crispy Poppadom is ready to taste and enjoy
To make Poppadom in Microwave Oven
- Add ¼ tsp of oil on both the sides of the uncooked papad and spread evenly
- Now place the papad in a microwave-safe plate and fry them for 45 to 60 seconds or until it turns crispy on both sides
To Serve
- Serve this crispy Poppadom as a starter or appetizer for your main course meal or an accompaniment with your favorite foods
Notes
- Papad Options - I have used plain Pappadums to make this dish but you can also use masala, rice, potato, or cumin papads
- Microwave Time - My papad fried in 45 seconds in the microwave but it may vary based on the pappadums we use. Usually, a single disc will fry from 45 to 60 seconds
- Homemade Papads - The homemade recipe shared in the post is made with urad dal and you can also use chickpea flour instead
- Serving - These crispy Poppadoms are one of the best starters to enjoy your main course meal
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 pieceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 39Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 40mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g
Disclaimer: Nutrition information comes from third-party apps and calculators. The information is purely an estimate and provided for information purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
FAQ
Poppadom or Pappadam is a circular disc-shaped dried flatbread either fried in oil or toasted in heat to consume. It is usually made with urad dal, chicken pea, rice, or potato flour which is kneaded, rolled, and dried in sunlight. The dried ones are usually fried in oil and served as a starter or accompaniment for a meal.
You can store the fried Poppadoms at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 days and homemade uncooked ones for 2 to 3 months.
The Poppadom recipe I have shared contains 39 calories per serving for the microwave version. But the Pappadums fried in oil have 60 calories per serving and it is just an estimation by the nutrition calculator. This calorie is based on the uncooked store-bought papads and it may vary for other variant pappadums. You could check the detailed nutritional information in the recipe card above.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you on how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
desicart
Thank you! It was also very quick and easy to make.