While we love a good jalfrezi or korma, there’s so much more to Indian cuisine than curries and naan. The country itself is massive and dishes vary from region to region, blessing the rest of the world with a hugely varied but rich food offering. Papa-Dum is bringing a range of these dishes to London, in a way that’s quick and convenient, perfect for an on-the-go lunch that packs a punch.
Using the myriad of spices Indian cuisine is known for and creating inspired dishes for Londoners, Papa-Dum is doing something quite unique and fun. An emphasis on plant-based eating is made here as well, with the menu being 60% vegetarian and 40% vegan for those conscious about their health and the planet.
One of the first dishes we tried here, and probably our favourite was surprisingly, a toastie. Papa-Dum offers a couple of toasties with an Indian twist, like the masala toastie and the Bombay chutney toastie. We tried a toastie with turkey and cheese, and it was gooey on the inside, crunchy on the outside and packed with thick slices of turkey. Honestly, yum. We washed this down with some of their famous chai, which is an absolute must-order when you dine at Papa-Dum.
Next up we tried something we’ve literally never come across before, which is pretty rare after six years of blogging. Dahi Puri are savoury shells filled with potato and chickpeas, topped with yoghurt, chutney, diced tomato and onion, pomegranate and chickpea vermicelli. Being sweet thanks to the yoghurt and pomegranate and savoury thanks to everything else, they were an interesting flavour and texture combination that was a winner in our books.
Vegans are sure to love indulging in the chickpea burger, layered with different spicy pastes inside a soft bun. This one has a bit of heat to it, so don’t drink it with your chai if you want to avoid a spicy party in your mouth. We also tried their butter chicken and goan fish, because it’s winter and eating curry in winter is always a good idea. While the butter chicken is a safe and reliable option, we would actually recommend trying to goan fish. Cooking white fish in a curry leaf and coconut sauce, it was super flavoursome with just a hint of heat to warm our icy fingers and toes.
Papa-Dum also offer a selection of traditional and original Indian-inspired desserts, of which we tried the Papa-Dum cheesecake and the rose milk pudding. Mel preferred the cheesecake, layering raspberry coulis, mace crumble and a cream cheese filling, while Kristen loved the pudding, being super light and fragrant with a layer of rose jelly.
Another fun initiative Papa-Dum is making is offering 10% off your meal if you bring your own container to help reduce waste. Tasty, affordable food with convenience and eco-awareness? Sign us up.
