See Also: lentil(medicine)
lentil(dictionary)
lentil(encyclopedia)
lentil(dictionary)
Lentil Burgers(recipes)
Savory Lentil Casserole(recipes)
Lentil and spinach stew(recipes)
Lentil Stew over Couscous(recipes)
Lentil Rice Curry(recipes)
Mediterranean Lentil Soup(recipes)

lentil (sh)




Small annual legume (Lens esculenta) and its lens-shaped, protein-rich, edible seed.

One of the most ancient of cultivated foods, it is a good source of vitamin B, iron, and phosphorus. Of unknown origin, the lentil is widely cultivated throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa; though little grown in the Western Hemisphere, its inclusion in the U.S. diet is increasing. Growing 6-18 in. (15-45 cm) high, the plant has compound leaves and pale blue flowers. Animals are fed the stalks and leaves as fodder.