Lentils are a lovely little legume! Legumes (lay-gooms) are a family of plants that grow the pea family. Usually a legume is a seed, pod, or other edible part of a plant from this plant family. Peas, beans, chickpeas, lima beans, and even peanuts are legumes.
Lentils are little bitty legumes that come in lots of colors, and can usually be listed by the closest shade of green, brown, or red. They are part of the vegetable group on MyPlate, and are full of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They’re also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber.When you buy them to cook, they come dry and in a small bag, like rice or dried beans and you usually need to rinse them before adding them to your cooking pot.
They are usually grown in Asia, India, and North Africa and are a staple to many diets there. You’ll find them in currys, soups, and as a side dish to many other things. They don’t have a lot of flavor on their own, so they can be seasoned with any herbs, spices, or veggies to add more flavor.
Have you ever eaten lentils?
Why not try them out?!
Click here for a lentil burger recipe: Lentil Burgers and check back tomorrow for a Sri Lankan Lentil Recipe from Captain Create’s friend Lal.