What are the different types of lentils?

Although there are a variety of non-vegetarian dishes, nonetheless majority of Indian delicacies is predominantly vegetarian in nature. In consequence, meals like lentils are a significant supply of proteins on this delicacies. They belong to the legume household and are a wealthy supply of fiber and protein. Lentils additionally helps in stopping spikes within the blood sugar and are properly endowed with B group nutritional vitamins.

Here’s a temporary abstract of several types of lentils utilized in Indian cooking:

1.Black-eyed pea: These lentils are identified by quite a lot of different names like Crowder pea, Cowpea, Black-eyed pea. In India, they’re referred to as Lombia or Lobhia. They’ve a creamy texture that could be a bit dry and possess a nice taste. They kind an integral a part of numerous curry-based dishes in India. They’re low on sodium and have excessive quantities of potassium and fiber. These lentils may also assist in preventing blood stress issues.

2.Chana Dal: Various names of this lentil embrace Bengal gram, Kadalai Paruppu and Kadale Bele. It appears to be like just like the yellow break up pea however has a nutty taste and is sweeter and smaller. Because it’s fairly a strong, versatile and attractive lentil, it’s utilized in quite a lot of dishes, notably together with Zucchini and Pumpkin.

3.Chick peas: These lentils are identified by quite a lot of names like Egyptian pea, Cici bean, white chickpea, Garbanzo pea and Garbanzo bean. They’re often known as Chole and Kabuli Chana in India. Chick peas are a scorching favourite in India since they’re fairly tasty and will be added to all types of curry, salad, soups and stew recipes. They’re used to arrange Chana Masala, which is without doubt one of the hottest dishes in North India. Chickpeas are identified for his or her excessive fiber content material and are a storehouse of vitamins like iron, phosphorus, copper, manganese and protein.

4.Pigeon peas: No-eye pea, Angola pea, Congo pea are a few of the well-known different names for pigeon peas. Also referred to as toor daal or arhar daal in India, these lentils are used throughout the size and breadth of India. Moreover being an vital a part of the North Indian delicacies, they’re notably most popular in South Indian soups like Sambhar and Rasam. This has a nutty, candy taste and is ochre coloured.

5.Moong beans: These small beans are greenish-yellowish in colour. There’s a important quantity of distinction within the break up beans and the entire beans. These are simple on the abdomen and will be mixed with numerous greens and spices for quite a lot of preparations. The break up Moong daal is yellow in colour and is named dhuli Moong in India. They’re hulled and utilized in numerous spicy curry preparations and dhals.

6.Pink Kidney beans: Popularly often known as rajma, these are a scorching favourite in North India. The rajma curry is commonly mixed with rice and is an entire supply of protein.

7.Masoor daal or pink lentils: Pink lentils are identified for his or her nutty style and utilized in quite a lot of spicy dhals, soups and stew recipes.

8.Urad daal or black lentils: Aside from being utilized in curry preparations, these lentils are used to make poppadums and dosas, that are the well-known South Indian pancakes.

These lentils not solely guarantee a balanced meal but additionally add numerous taste to the Indian delicacies!