Papadums Lentil and Chickpea Crisps

"For centuries, the papadum (aka papadam, or appalam) has been a staple across India, as a ubiquitous snack and meal accompaniment. Since the 1980s, some version of these crisp, fried, gram-flour flatbreads has been paired with sweet mango chutneys and mint sauce in nearly every UK curry house—not to mention other Indian-style restaurants all around the world. Trader Joe’s Papadums are perhaps smaller than the large crisps you may have seen presented in a basket at your local Indian restaurant. But other than being one or two-bite sized, these Papadums are made in a traditional fashion. Our supplier starts with simple ingredients, making a dough derived from lentils and chickpeas. Formed into thin, chip-like discs, the dough is then fried in rice bran oil, and lightly seasoned with salt and cumin, as is common practice in parts of northern India. The resulting airy Crisps have a lightly nutty taste and a wonderful crunch. And they’re an ideal size for carrying your favorite Trader Joe’s dip right into your open mouth. For starters, we recommend Trader Joe’s Sri Lanken Organic Mango Chutney, or our Vegan Tzatziki. If you’re doing more than snacking, try them on the side with your Vegetable Biryani, or next to your steaming bowl of Yellow Tadka Dal."