Everything You Need to Know About the Indian Staple Food, Lentils

The traditional Indian staple foods include rice, wheat, and lentils. Cooking vegetables and eating them with wheat cooked on heat started at a comparatively later stage. 

India is a land of diversity and keeping in mind the various soils, climates, cultures, traditions, locally available groceries, different cuisines are born in different parts of the country.

The dietary needs of somebody who stays in India depend entirely on the region they grew up in or stayed in the longest in. A person coming from the Eastern parts of India will cook an entirely different potato dish using a different set of spices while someone who grew up in South India will know a different recipe altogether.

Lentils, one of the staple food of India are also known as pulses. They are members of the legume family of vegetables. Lentils are a rich source of protein including amino acids, iron, dietary fibers, and vitamins. India alone produces about 1.5 tonnes of lentils per year. Get original Indian dal from Spice Village Supermarket, a grocery store for online shopping in Germany. The Indian Dal is included in all the meals and is considered to be a very healthy dish. Indian mothers love dal and cook it with extra love and care for their family to enjoy. 

Another reason why lentils are this famous among the Indians is that most of the Indian population is vegetarian. Lentils are like chicken for vegetarians, a heft source of protein. 

Lentils are first thoroughly washed, some are pre-soaked in water and cooked on a cooker with water and salt. Later on, spices and smokey fried herbs like dried red chilly, garlic, etc are added to the cooked lentil according to taste. 

Types of Lentils: 

1. Chana Dal: Yellow coloured lentil, is one of the largest Indian lentils. It has a nutty sweet taste to it and is called by various different names in different regions of the country. It is one of the world’s oldest cultivated vegetables. Chana Dal is an excellent source of protein and fiber and is a great dietary addition for those who have diabetes. 
2. Masoor Dal: Salmon-coloured, Indian lentils. Once cooked Masoor dal turns golden and mushy. This easy and quick to cook dal has a very earthy flavour and creamy texture. Masoor dal is usually mushy, thick, and creamy and is pre-soaked to give it the texture.
3. Moong Dal: The beans of moong were have originated from India, which are now grown in most parts of Asia. Moong bean is used as sprouts for a healthy meal or breakfast. Moong dal is sold both with and without its skin. With the skin, it is a green lentil while without it is what we call Moong Dal. This yellow coloured dal is used to make Pongal too.
4. Urad Dal: A true Indian lentil, has been in India for a very long time. Because of its nutritious values, it is highly recommended to people with diabetes. Sold with as well as without the shell, Urad dal is used to make the famous Indian Dal dish, Dal Makhani. 
5. Toor Dal: This healthy dal has been a part of Indian cultivation for over 30 decades. This yellow coloured dal is loved by north Indians and is popularly known as Arhar Dal. This particular lentil is a staple food of South India and is used to make Sambar. 

To order authentic Indian products from Indian grocery store online with free shipping check out Spice Village Supermarket. 

Health Benefits of Lentils:

1. Rich source of protein for vegetarian people 
2. Low in calories 
3. Has anti-oxidants 
4. Highly nutritious, rich in iron, packed with zinc, vitamins, and potassium
5. Excellent meat alternative
6. High in fiber 
7. Supports regular bowel movement 
8. Promotes growth of healthy gut bacteria
9. Helps in weight loss
10. Prevention against heart diseases and diabetes 
11. Rich in health promoting phytochemicals 
12. Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect
13. Lentils have a neuroprotective effect 
14. Improve blood sugar level
15. They do not lose their nutritional value once cooked 

Here are some dishes that one can make using dal. These dishes can be eaten as snacks, with cooked vegetables, and even as breakfast. Buy Indian food online from Spice Village Supermarket and get authentic products, a wide range, and free shipping in Germany.

1. Dal ki roti: Knead leftover boiled lentils into the dough of wheat and cook as required.
2. Idli: Mix lentils powder with rice flour and steam to get these beautiful, light treats
3. Sambhar: South Indian delicacy made using dal cooked in vegetables best served with, well everything! 
4. Dal Dhokli: A two in one package of cooked lentils with the wheat dough in it.
5. Dal as sprouts: The healthiest, tastiest breakfast treats! Soak overnight and best served with chaat masala, chopped onions and tomatoes, lemon juice and topped with coriander.
6. Dal soup: A simple, plain cooked lentils recipe with more water to make it soupy specially made when somebody is sick
7. Khichdi or Indian Shepard’s pie: Traditional Indian upset stomach meal, cooked with rice. Best served with cold dahi. 
8. Kabab: Leftover dal can be mixed with veggies and fried to make this mouth-watering snack. 
9. Dal Puri or Paratha: Knead with binding agents like wheat or maida. Best served with pickles, chutney, etc. Leftover Lentils can be reused to make some lip smackingly yum.