Papad and Dana Methi

The two main ingredients namely curd and fenugreek seeds are quite nutritious for body. Curd contains calcium and minerals while fenugreek seeds are good for digestive system. The other main ingredient- Papad is readily available in the market. It is a snack eaten with meals like daal-chawal. Some people prefer to savor papad as appetizer.

I prefer to use papad made in urad daal or white lentils. Here is the procedure to make the delicious papad and dana-methi dish.

Ingredients:
Curd- 1 cup
Red chilly- 2 teaspoons
Turmeric- 1 teaspoon
Coriander- 1 teaspoon
Common salt- 2 teaspoons
Dana-methi/ Fenugreek seeds- 1 tablespoon
Ghee- 1 tablespoon
Cumin seeds- ½ teaspoon
Asafetida- a pinch

Boil a cup of water. Add fenugreek seeds. Leave it for half an hour. Strain the water and keep it aside. You can also soak the seeds in water overnight.

In order to make gravy, I prefer to use curd paste. Remove the curd from fridge at least two hours before cooking the dish. Churn it well so that lumps are removed and a smooth paste is obtained. Add spices like chilly, turmeric, salt and coriander powder. Mix once again.

Place a kadai or frying pan on the stove. Pour ghee and heat for 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and asafetida. Once they start to splutter, add the curd paste slowly. Keep sautéing for some time till you see the ghee afloat. Pour some hot water. After the first boil, add the boiled fenugreek seeds/ dana-methi. Stir for some time. Switch off the burner and add papad. Close the pan with lid for two minutes.

Papad is prepared with the help of lentils or pulses. The pulses like chana daal and urad daal are grinded to make flour. Dough is prepared using oil, spices and flour. It is important to maintain consistency in making dough. Sufficient oil should be put to increase the tensile strength of dough. Prepare small rolls or make small lumps. These rolls are cut into small pieces. It is important to make chapatti of the lump. It should be thin and dried in open sun. Once dried, I prefer to roast it. For the above recipe, I prefer to take two medium-sized papads. In case, it's difficult to make papad, you can buy from the grocery store too.

Papad and dana-methi dish is one of the traditional recipes of Rajasthani kitchen. It is extremely delicious when served with rotis or chapattis. The unique taste of fenugreek seed and curd is tantalizing for your taste buds. I prefer to serve when it's warm. If you opt for re-heating, it wouldn't be possible to savor the original and authentic taste.