Black gram facts for kids
Vigna mungo, often called the black gram or urad bean, is a type of bean grown mainly in South Asia. It's a close relative of the mung bean. You might see it sold as "black lentil" when it's whole, or "white lentil" when it's split open. But don't get confused! It's not a true lentil, which is a different, much smaller plant.
Contents
What is Black Gram?
Black gram is a small, bushy plant that grows about 30 to 100 centimeters tall. It has hairy leaves and long, thin seed pods, which are about six centimeters long. The plant has a main root that branches out into smaller roots with smooth, round bumps. These bumps help the plant get nutrients from the soil.
Where Does It Grow?
This special bean first came from South Asia, especially India, where people have been growing it for a very long time. It's one of the most important pulses (a type of bean or pea) in India and is used in many Indian dishes.
In India, farmers grow black gram during both the summer (Kharif) and winter (Rabi) seasons. Some areas, like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, are famous for growing lots of black gram. It's also grown in other warm places around the world, like the Caribbean, Fiji, and Africa. This happened because Indian people who moved to these places brought the bean with them. In Nepal, it's known as kalo maas daal or kalo daal and is a very popular side dish.
Cooking with Black Gram
Black gram is super popular in cooking, especially in India. In Northern India, people often use the whole or split beans to make a dish called dal. When cooked, it can have a slightly sticky texture.
In Southern India, black gram is a key ingredient for making famous breakfast foods like idli and dosa. For these, black gram is ground into a batter with rice. Another tasty snack, vada, is also made from black gram batter that is deep-fried. You can also find white lentils (split black gram) used to make papadum, which are thin, crispy flatbreads.
It's also a main ingredient in dal makhani, a creamy and rich dish popular in Punjabi cuisine.
Why is Black Gram Healthy?
Black gram is very good for you! It's packed with important nutrients that help your body stay strong.
Here are some of the good things in black gram:
- Protein: It has a lot of protein, which helps build and repair your body.
- Potassium: This helps your heart and muscles work well.
- Calcium: Important for strong bones and teeth.
- Iron: Helps carry oxygen in your blood.
- Folate: This is a type of B vitamin that is very important for growth and development.
Because it has so many good things, black gram is a very important part of the daily meals for many people in India and Nepal.
Other Names for Black Gram
Black gram has many different names depending on where you are in South and Southeast Asia. Here are a few:
- In Hindi, it's often called uṛad dāl.
- In Tamil, it's known as uḷuntu or ulundu.
- In Telugu, people call it minumulu.
- In Nepali, it's called Kalo Daal (which means black lentil) or mās.
- In Myanmar, it's known as matpe.
See also
In Spanish: Fréjol negro para niños
