Emma McCaskill's papadums with smashed peas
Prep 30 mins
Cook 30 mins
Serves 4 as snack
Difficulty 3
“These papadums are similar to lavosh, so they can be used for toast, with dips, or as an accompaniment to cheese,” says Adelaide chef Emma McCaskill. “The dough may feel firm and dry, but it needs to be for a crisp result. Even when you roll it through the pasta roller, it may crack on the edges a little, but keep persisting – it will come good. Add smashed peas and you have a great spring snack.”
Curry leaves, to serve
SMASHED PEAS
400g frozen peas
½ cup (loosely packed) mint, coarsely chopped
½ bunch chives, finely chopped
60ml (¼ cup) extra-virgin olive oil
50g firm feta, finely crumbled
Juice and finely grated rind of 1 lemon
1 garlic clove, crushed
PAPADUMS
125 gm black gram flour (see note)
¼ tsp nigella seeds, plus extra to serve
Vegetable oil, for rolling and deep-frying
1. For papadums, combine flour, nigella seeds, 50ml warm water and ¼ tsp salt flakes in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix by hand until dough starts to come together, adding 1 tsp extra water at a time if needed to create a stiff, dry dough. Attach a dough hook and mix on low speed until a smooth dough forms (5-6 minutes). Transfer to a lightly oiled bench and turn dough over to coat the other side with oil. Roll out with a rolling pin until about 5mm thick, then roll through a pasta machine, starting on the thickest setting, and gradually reducing the thickness, until you reach the thinnest or second-thinnest setting. Cut dough into 5cm squares or any other shape you like.
2. Heat oil to 180°C in a large frying pan over medium heat. Carefully slip in 3 or 4 papadums (be careful, hot oil may spit). Fry, turning once, until light golden and crisp (1 minute). Remove with tongs, shake off excess oil, drain on absorbent paper and season to taste with salt. Repeat with remaining dough. Store papadums in an airtight container.
3. Using the same oil, fry the curry leaves until crisp (be careful, they will splatter). Drain on absorbent paper and season to taste.
5. For smashed peas, blanch peas in boiling water (1 minute). Drain well, transfer to a bowl, add a generous pinch of sea salt and crush with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Serve with papadums and fried curry leaves.
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
N O T E
Black gram flour (urad or urud flour) is available from Indian supermarkets. If you can’t find it, use besan (chickpea flour).
Recipe by Emma McCaskill. Image by Eatable.
