Vengai Appalam / Pappadam is an Indian deep fried dough of black gram bean flour, either fried or cooked with dry heat (flipped over an open flame) until crunchy. Other flours made from lentils, chickpeas, rice, tapioca, millet or potato are also used.
It is typically based on a seasoned dough usually made from peeled black gram flour (urad flour), either fried or cooked with dry heat. Papadums are typically served as an accompaniment to a meal in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka or as an appetizer or snack.