PAPPADAM AND APPALAM

Dear friends,

Recently my co- brother with family from Cherthalacame to Chennai to attend a 
function. Their main stay was with us. As customaryhe brought quality fresh 
Pappadam, Raw banana and banana chips. We had in stockrecently brought Kallidai 
kurichi appalm from Kallidaikurichi itself. While Irelished the real Kerala 
papadam with puff and blisters they enjoyed very muchthe kallidai kurichi 
appalam. Though we get, Kerala pappadam in Chennai shopsand supermarkets in 
pack, really the taste varied much. Raw banana became ripennext day and as 
intended pazhampori was prepared at home. I just thought towrite about Pappadam 
and appalam with some nostalgic memories. I hope manyrelish the nostalgic 
memories. This is also a time pass reading

Gopalakrishnan 28-11-2023.

1 Pappadam preparation.

Even in my college days Pappadam was prepared by acommunity called 
Pandaram.Different sizes were prepared, small, big and Very big. Very big was 
mainlyintended for Onam and feasts. They were dried in a mat prepared from  
bamboo split to lengthy pieces and braided inrectangular size of about 10’x6’ 
called Perambu. After 50% drying, the pappadams werepacked in sizes of 50 or 
100 and bundled using coconut leaves split to about 1cm width. Why coconut 
leaveswere used is not clear to me. No other packing. They were 
normallydisplayed in almirah. However some distribute carrying in a basket. I 
recollectthe Malayalam film where Mohanlal acts like a Pandaram-Padamudra, now 
too shows in TV channels.

During Onam period there was very high demand, and wehad to place order 
earlier. 

2 Kerala Pappadamserved in Chennai

Last Onam we had dining in Geetham veg. restaurant inVelachery, Chennai where 
for Onam meals, Palakkadan special Matta rice wasserved, and Pappadams from 
Kerala. Though charged a little high we relished thereal Kerala meals, pappadam 
served as we required. 

3 How pappadamis prepared.

Kerala Pappadam is made of Urad dal and contains larger quantities of Sodawhich 
causes it to fluff up after frying. 

Papad is an oriental snack food made from doughconsisting mainly of black gram 
(Phaseolus mungo) flour along with salt andspice powders. It is prepared by 
rolling dough into a circular shape of 0.3–2.0mm thick and drying to a moisture 
level of 14–15%.

4 What is thewater content of papadams?

14–15%

5 What is thedifference between appalam and papadam?

Pappadam is made with lentils and rolled into verythin circles. It is dried and 
packed to sell. We have to deep fry or roast onheat for use. They are crispy. 

Applams are made with more than one flour or batter made with a grainand some 
lentil and some spices. Numerous varieties and vary in thickness andsize and 
shape and not crispy really. Some of them are soft too! These oncemade are 
stored for a few days. Appalams vary from region to region.

Now everywhere in Kerala pappadam is in packs. Manyprepare pappadam. 
Preparation is more mechanised. 

Appalam can be made of a variety of starch orlentils. It does not contain as 
much soda.20 Dec 2018

6.Tapiocapappadam

Earlier made at homes, later prepared as cottageindustry, thick tapioca 
pappadam was available made in Kerala, in Chennai shopsalso. Now made in 
Tamilnadu also, more mechanised, they have become very thin.

7. Pappadam madein Tamilnadu

We get Kerala pappadam made in Tamilnadu, in packs inshops, though puff and 
blister, even using coconut oil, still lacks the Keralaprepared taste. Probably 
difference in water or lentils can be the reason.

8. Appalam andblister.

Appalam is thicker, moister content is less, butstill some appalam blisters if 
not puffing. Many companies preparing appalams.The ones from Kallidai kurichi 
is still stand apart, again because of water,type of rice powder and quality of 
lentils.

9. Differenttypes of appalams

Small, medium and large size appalams are there, Varietiesare there added with 
pepper, cumin, green chilly in addition to salt. 

Special appalams are served in major restaurants.

10 KeralaValiyapappadam.

During Onam there were quarrels about the serving ofvaliyapappadam on those 
days and news items appeared in Newspaper. Slightlymore fried, end broken, etc. 
created quarrels. Actual reasons may be different.However now Valiyapappadam is 
 served incertain areas only.

11. Tamilnaduserving pappadam in feasts.

Especially in Brahmin feasts, it has become apractice in Tamilnadu to serve 
Kerala pappadam, Banana chips, Sarkara purattiand Elayada(Valsan)

12. Appalapoo

It is oval size small appalam, earlier purchased bymiddle class because for 
frying, less oil was required. But it tasted speciallike kerala pappadam.   Now 
it is a scarce item, and priced high. Inresorts we can see serving appalapoo, 
along with French fries and special frieditems.

13 North Indianpappads

In exhibitions and buffets nowadays it is a commonseen to have North Indian 
pappads very large in sizes made of various lentils.In exhibition stalls the 
sizes after frying are about 8 inches diameter and thick, as a snack itis 
served with coffee/tea. They are priced around 40 to 50 rupees. 

14. Appalam invathal kuzhampu and sambar.

In many homes in place of vegetables, for a varietycut appalams are added. They 
are very tasty.

15.Chakkapazhampappadam

About a year back my brother’s son employed atMalappram came with his wife. She 
brought chakkappazham pappadam, on frying itwas sweet and tasty. Long back in 
homes it was prepared in jack fruit season athomes. Now it is prepared in wider 
scale and available in shops in that area. 

 

 

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