The Red lentil Whole (Lens culinary or Lens esculenta) is an edible legume. It is a bushy annual plant known for its lens-shaped seeds. It is about 40 cm (16 in) tall, and the seeds grow in pods, usually with two seeds in each. As a food crop, the majority of world production comes from Canada, India.
In cuisines of the Indian subcontinent, where lentils are a staple, split lentils (often with their hulls removed) known as daal are often cooked into a thick curry/gravy that is usually eaten with rice or rotis. Many different names in different parts of the
world are used for the crop lentil; lentil (English),
adas (Arabic), mercimek (Turkish), messer (Amharic), dahl or daal (Hindi) and hiramame (Japanese) are the most common names.
Nutritional Value
Red Lentils whole are often overlooked, even though they're an inexpensive way of getting a wide range of nutrients. they're packed with B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and potassium. Lentils are made up of over 25% protein, which makes them an excellent meat alternative. They're also a great source of iron, a mineral that
is sometimes lacking in vegetarian diets. Though different types of lentils may vary slightly in their nutrient contents, one cup (198 grams) of cooked lentils generally provides about:
Serving Size: 1cup
Calories: 230
Carbs: 39.9 grams
Protein: 17.9 grams
Fat: 0.8 grams
Fibre: 15.6 grams
Thiamine: 22%
Niacin: 10% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 18% of the RDI
Folate: 90% of the RDI
Pantothenic acid: 13% of the RDI
Iron: 37% of the RDI