Papad Khane Ke Fayde aur Nuksan: Is Papad Healthy?

Papad is healthy when you roast it and eat it in small amounts. It's made from dal, so it gives you a little protein and a lot of crunch. The two things to watch are salt and frying oil.

Here's what papad is made of, its real benefits and downsides, and how to enjoy it without guilt.

Papad kis cheez se banta hai? (What is papad made of?)

A traditional papad has only a few ingredients:

• Dal flour. Usually urad dal or moong dal, which is where the protein comes from.
• Spices. Black pepper, jeera (cumin) or red chilli flakes, depending on the variety.
• Salt.
• Papad khar. A natural, plant-based ingredient from plants that grow in salty water. It makes papad light, crisp and easy to roll thin.

The dough is rolled by hand into thin discs and sun-dried. At FarmDidi, our Didis hand-make every papad in facilities that follow good manufacturing and hygiene practices.

Papad khane ke fayde (Benefits of eating papad)

1. A little plant protein. Because papad is made from dal, each piece carries some protein. FarmDidi's urad and moong papads have about 1.5 g of protein per piece.
2. Helps digestion when spiced right. Black pepper and jeera are traditionally added to help digestion. That's why papad is served alongside heavy meals.
3. Low-calorie crunch when roasted. A roasted papad gives the crunch of a snack without the oil of chips or namkeen.
4. Makes simple meals better. A papad next to dal-chawal or khichdi makes a plain meal feel complete.
5. Long shelf life. Sun-dried papad keeps for months in an airtight container. Store it in a cool, dry place and reseal after every use.

Papad ke nuksan (Downsides of papad)

1. High in salt. Salt and papad khar both add sodium. Eating several papads a day adds a lot of salt to your diet.
2. Fried papad soaks up oil. Frying adds oil, and the oil adds calories and fat. Fried papad every day undoes its benefits.
3. Not ideal for some health conditions. People with high blood pressure or kidney problems need to limit salt. Read Is achar good for blood pressure? for practical salt-control tips that apply to papad too.

Roasted vs fried vs microwave papad

For everyday eating, roast or microwave. Save fried papad for festivals.

Is papad good for weight loss?

Roasted papad can fit into a weight-loss diet. It's a light, crunchy alternative to fried snacks, and a little goes a long way. Keep it to 1–2 roasted papads a day and watch your total salt intake.

Fried papad is not a good choice for weight loss. For more ideas on adding flavour without extra calories, read Is achar good for weight loss?

Ek din mein kitne papad kha sakte hain? (How many papads a day?)

For most healthy adults, 1–2 roasted papads a day with meals is a sensible amount. If you have high blood pressure or kidney issues, ask your doctor, and keep papad as an occasional treat.

Festive serving ideas

Diwali and the wedding season are when papad shines. Try these:

• Masala papad. Roast a papad and top it with chopped tomato, cucumber, coriander, lemon juice and chaat masala. Start with our Punjabi Masala Papad, which already has chilli flakes in it.
• Papad churi. Crush roasted papad over dal-chawal or curd rice for crunch.
• Papad ki sabzi. A Rajasthani classic: broken papad cooked in a spiced curd gravy.
• Papad cones. Roll a warm roasted papad into a cone and fill it with chana chaat.

Which FarmDidi papad should you try?

All four are made without onion or garlic, so they suit a Jain diet too. Read more in Jain food explained.

Frequently asked questions

Try all four: the Pack of 4 Papads has urad, jeera, masala and moong papad in one box. Shop all papad.