Papad-yums

Menu Notes:

• This is the appetizer for my Thanksgiving Menu 2012, and both the raita and the mint chutney double as condiments for roast lamb on the same menu.

The Ingredients:

• Uncooked papad
• Cooking grade olive oil

• 355 ml (or 1½ cups) of yogurt
• 1 cucumber
• Several sprigs of dill
• 30 ml (or 2 tablespoons) of lemon juice
• 5 ml (or 1 teaspoon) of Cayenne pepper
• 2.5 cc (or ½ teaspoon) of salt
• Sugar substitute equivalent to 5 ml (or 1 teaspoon) of cane sugar

• Approximately 235 cc (or 1 cup) of mint leaves and tender stems, loosely packed
• Approximately 235 cc (or 1 cup) of cilantro leaves and tender stems, loosely packed
• 1.3-cm (or ½-inch) piece of ginger
• Approximately 118 cc (or ½ cup) of chopped onion
• 1 small green chili
• 30 ml (or 2 tablespoons) of lime juice
• 15 ml (or 1 tablespoon) of tamarind concentrate
• 15 ml (or 1 tablespoon) of ground cardamom

The Method:

Papadums

1. Pour olive oil into a shallow skillet to a depth of 2.5 cm (or 1 inch).
2. Place a large, shallow dish next to the stove and line it with paper towels.
3. Heat the oil until it immediately cooks a small break-off piece of the papad.
4. Using tongs, slide one papad into—and totally beneath the surface of—the hot oil. 
5. If the oil is hot enough, the papad expands and crinkles immediately. Turn it over with the tongs and allow it to cook for a few seconds on the other side, then remove onto the paper towel to drain.
6. Repeat for as many papadums as there are people to eat them.
7. Serve immediately. If papadums get soft, reheat in the oven at a low temperature for 5 minutes, or until they are crisp again.

Raita

1. Seed the cucumber and grate it.
2. Squeeze it to remove much of the water.
3. Add it to the yogurt in a small bowl.
4. Rinse, dry, and finely chop the dill, then add it to the yogurt mixture.
5. Add lemon juice, Cayenne pepper, salt, and sugar substitute to the yogurt mixture.
6. Mix thoroughly.

Mint chutney

1. Wash and dry the mint and cilantro, and place them in a food processor or similar machine.
2. Add all of the other ingredients and process until the mixture is blended. Add water if needed to improve consistency.

Mint chutney

Raita