Black Lentils

The Black Lentils are an edible pulse. It is a bushy annual plant of the legume family, known for its lens shaped seeds. The lentils are a dietary staple throughout regions of South Asian region. The Majority of world production comes from Canada, India, and Australia.

Description:

The black lentils are legumes that generally have a rich nutty flavor. They are grown in pods, which contain one or two seeds each. They are cook much faster than dried beans. The Black lentils, which hold their shape well after cooking, are making it a good condition to salad and other dishes that need additional texture. It is most commonly used in Indian food dishes. Black Lentils can be found whole, split and with skin removed. The lentils are a creamy color when the skins removed.

Storage:

They can be stored indefinitely but after a year, their color will begin to fade and they will become dryer and take longer to cook. Thus, store in a sealable bag or airtight container in a cool dry area out of direct sunlight.

Uses:

The Green lentils are generally used for warm curries, baby food, thickening soups and casseroles, salads, soup, and stew. Black lentils hold their shape well if not overcooked and can be added to salads and other dishes. The varieties that are soft after cooking are used mainly to thicken the stew and soup or are made into purees.

Nutritional Value of Black Lentils:

Nutritional Value of Black Lentils contains per 100gms is mentioned below:

Energy                                     353 kcal

Carbohydrates                       63 g

Sugars                                      2 g

Dietary fiber                           10.7 g

Fat                                           1 g

Protein                                    25 g

Vitamins

Thiamine (B1)                         0.87 mg             Riboflavin (B2)                              0.211 mg

Niacin (B3)                              2.605 mg          Pantothenic acid (B5)                    2.14 mg

Vitamin B6                               0.54 mg            Folate (B9)                                       479 μg

Vitamin C                                  4.5 mg

Minerals

Calcium                                     56 mg                 Iron                                                 6.5 mg

Magnesium                              47 mg                 Phosphorus                                   281 mg

Potassium                                 677 mg               Sodium                                            6 mg

Zinc                                            3.3 mg

Properties:

Shape: Lens

Size:  Small pods

Color: Black To Brown

Flavor: Earthy and Bland