Red Lentils

The Red 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 Red 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 Red lentils, which do not hold their shape well after cooking, are making it a good condition to salad and other dishes that need additional texture.

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, side dishes, soup, and stew. Red lentils do not hold their shape on cooked 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 Red Lentils:

Nutritional Value of Red 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: Orange to Red

Flavor: Sweet and Nutty