3 Review(s)

Black gram grows on an erect, hairy bush with stems diffusing from the base reaching up to 30 to 100 cm in height with trifoliate leaves, sporting tiny, yellow flowers. The fruit looks cylindrical while its hairy pods contain up to 4 to 10 black seeds. This fast-growing plant has in fact made India the largest producer of black gram in the world with 1.5 million tonnes of seeds annually, followed by Fiji, Mauritius, Africa and Caribbean countries.Used extensively in South Indian cuisine, black gram is a rich source of protein, Vitamin B, potassium, calcium, iron, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin. In few parts of Southern India, eating crispy vadas made from urad dal is a tradition during the harvest festival Sankranti/Pongal, as it meets the protein requirements of the vegetarians, in the winter season.