From The Food Encyclopedia by Jacques Rolland and Carol Sherman
Also papadam, poppadum. An East Indian flatbread made from chickpea or lentil flour, rolled out wafer-thin and fried or grilled. They can be plain or flavored with a variety of spices, such as black pepper or garlic. Pappadams puff up to almost twice their original size when deep-fried, but deflate as they cool.
