It is the season of making papads and pickles. Rain is absent and the days are dry and hot. So, it is the right time to start making papads and pickles.
If you are unaware of what a papad is, let me explain. Rice flour or gram flour is mixed with salt, red chilly powder, sesame seeds, and other spices if needed. It is cooked to form a porridge-like consistency and spread on sheets and sun-dried. The dried papads are then fried in oil and had with rice.
The one in the picture was made a few years ago. I have yet to make them this year. The image was stored in the ecency gallery and I used it.
One can also make it by grinding raw soaked white rice along with green chilies and salt and then spread on banana leaves in the shape of a small moon and then steam-cooked for a minute. These are then sun-dried for two days and stored in air-tight containers. We can also add color to the mixture.
The papads made with rice are very delicious and are enjoyed by all.
Papads can also be prepared using tapioca flour or jackfruit (cooked) paste. Jackfruit flour by the way is good for people with diabetes and can be filling too. Most pharma sadly do not promote this as it is very effective in reducing the glucose spike.
Anyway, I hope you get to eat papads sometimes. Making one's papads at home is better than the store-bought packaged ones as it might contain preservatives.
Pickling mangoes at this time of the year is common. Raw and tender mangoes are washed and salted in huge jars. After a few weeks, it is stored along with red chilly powder, and crushed mustard and covered with a cloth dipped in sesame oil. The jar is sealed properly and opened only after a few months.
Papads can be stored in sealed covers but might not last for more than 6 months. Otherwise, dry it in the sun just to make sure it does not go bad.
Pickles will last a long time and can also be refrigerated. Big lemons known as vadukapuli can also be pickled and sun-dried. These are very comforting for the stomach and can be had to enhance taste during fever or stomach upset.
Please do write about the authentic foods in your place. \
The first image is mine.