The lentil plant of the legume family, grown for its lens-shaped
seeds. With 25% protein lentil are the vegetable with the
highest level of protein other than soybeans, and because of
this it is a very important part of the diet in many parts of
the world, and especially South Asia which has a large
vegetarian population. A variety of lentils exist with colors
that range from yellow to red-orange to green, brown and black.
The colours of the seeds when removed from the pods also vary,
and there are large and small varieties. They are sold in many
forms, with or without the pods, whole or split. The seeds have
a short cooking time and a distinctive earthy flavor. Lentils
are used to prepare an inexpensive and nutritious soup all over
Europe and North America, sometimes combined with some form of
pork. They are frequently combined with rice, which has a
similar cooking time. Lentils are used throughout the
Mediterranean regions and the Middle East. In South Asia,
lentils are known as dal, as are most sorts of d