The lentil (Vicia lens or Lens culinaris) is an edible legume. It is an annual plant known for its lentil-shaped seeds. It is about 40 cm tall and its seeds grow in pods which usually contain two seeds each.
 Lentils are used throughout the world for culinary purposes. In the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent, where lentils are a staple, split lentils (often stripped of their shells), called dal, are often cooked into a thick curry that is usually eaten with rice or rotis. Lentils are commonly used in stews and soups.