Grilled Pappadums With Spicy Lentil Dip Recipes

HOMEMADE PAPADUMS FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Mix together the flour, salt, optional powdered spices, and water until the ingredients just come together. Add the water little by little while mixing together, until you end up with a stiff dough. Feel free to adjust the salt and spices to taste. (Garlic powder and pepper are optional additions.)
• Knead and pound on the dough for several minutes. At first the dough will be sticky, but as you knead and pound on it, it will start to come together. You can grease your hands and counter to help keep everything from sticking. I've used both coconut oil and olive oil and both work well. (Any vegetable oil shoud work.)
• Take sections of the dough and roll them out on the countertop thinly, around 2mm thin. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out circular-shaped papadums and then use a rolling pin to roll the disks out it even thinner.
• Optionally sprinkle whole cumin seeds or other spices over the disks and use a rolling pin to gently press them into the papadums.
• Spread the poppadum disks over parchment paper to allow them to dry. Flip the disks ocassionally throughout the drying process. (You can speed up the process by drying them in the sun, a dehydrator, or an oven at its lowest temperature.)
• Dried papadums can be stored in an airtight container for later, or cooked for immediate serving.
• Papadums can be broiled in the oven, puffed in the microwave, or deep-fried. My favorite method is to deep fry or pan fry the papadums in a small amount of oil. Papadums made in this way crisp up instantly in the hot oil. Broiled and microwaved papadums also crisp up quickly but aren't as light and flaky as the deep-fried ones.

MINI PAPPADAMS WITH CILANTRO CHUTNEY AND LIME PICKLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until it registers 350°F on deep-fat thermometer. Fry pappadams in 3 batches until puffed and pale golden, 30 seconds to 1 minute, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. (Return oil to 350°F between batches.)
• Purée cilantro in a blender with jalapeño, water, brown sugar, lime juice, and salt. Transfer to a bowl and stir in yogurt.
• Serve pappadams with chutney and pickle for dipping.

ROASTED BEET AND LENTIL DIP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F with 2 racks set in the middle. Stir together 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon of the oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, thyme, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a 2-quart baking dish. Add the beets and stir to coat in the liquid. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the upper rack of the oven until the beets are fork-tender, about 1 hour, stirring the beets once halfway through the cooking time.
• Meanwhile, spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast on the lower rack of the oven until slightly darkened in color and fragrant, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Finely chop 3 of the toasted walnuts and reserve for garnish.
• Remove the thyme from the baking dish and discard. Cool the beets and cooking liquid slightly, about 10 minutes. Add the beets, cooking liquid (along with the cooked garlic), whole toasted walnuts, lentils, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a food processor. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Season with the remaining 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar if desired.
• Transfer the dip to a small serving bowl and garnish with the reserved walnuts. Serve with pita chips and vegetables.

PAPPADAMS (LENTIL WAFERS)

Steps:

• Heat about 1 1/2 inches oil in a wok or 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over high heat until a tiny piece of pappadam dropped in oil quickly bobs to surface and expands (about 350°F).
• Reduce heat to medium-high. Slip 1 pappadam into oil and let it expand to its full size and turn light brown, 10 to 30 seconds. Using tongs, flip it over quickly and fry other side until light brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining pappadams. (If pappadams don't expand immediately, oil is too cool; if they brown too quickly, oil is too hot.)

LENTIL WAFERS/ BREAD (PAPPADUM)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in an Indian kadhai or a deep-fryer to a depth of 2 inches. When the oil is hot to 375 F degrees, drop one wafer into the oil. The wafer will turn several shades lighter and expand considerably, this will take about 5 seconds. Remove with a pair of tongs and drain on paper towels. Fry all the wafers the same way.

GRILLED SHRIMP WITH SPICY TOMATO HORSERADISH DIP

Steps:

• Marinate shrimp in the olive oil, garlic and thyme for 1 hour. Remove from marinade and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Serve with the spicy tomato dip. Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until almost smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

PAPADUMS WITH WHIPPED DAL

Steps:

• Line a plate with paper towels. Pour a shallow layer of canola oil in a large sauté pan or skillet and heat over high heat until it ripples.
• Fry the papadum sheets one at a time until crispy, about 30 seconds. There's no need to flip them, as they are so thin. Transfer to the paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil, then cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Heat the sunflower oil in a medium saucepan over high heat until it ripples. Add the onion, garlic, curry, cardamom, ginger, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 4 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add 3 cups water and the lentils, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool fully.
• Transfer the lentil mixture to a blender with the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Serve with papadum pieces or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

GRILLED EGGPLANT DIP

Steps:

• Heat a grill to medium. Brush the bell pepper with some of the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Brush the eggplant slices on both sides with more of the canola oil, season with salt and pepper.
• Grill the eggplant until charred on the first side, about 3 minutes. Turn and continue grilling until tender, another 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a cutting board. Grill the bell pepper, turning occasionally, until charred all over and tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let steam while you make the eggplant puree.
• Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle them with salt, and mash and smear them to a paste using the side of a knife. Remove the skin from the eggplant and transfer the flesh to a food processor. Add the garlic paste, tahini, yogurt, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and the lemon zest, oregano and smoked paprika. Process until smooth and thick. Add salt to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and let sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Peel, seed and dice the bell pepper.
• Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over the dip. Top with the diced peppers and the chopped parsley. Serve with warm pita or lavash.