Urad Dal

These beans, sometimes referred to as black gram, are black when whole and white when husked and split. Small and oblong in shape, they have a rich, heavy taste and are glutinous and develop a thick, creamy texture when cooked. Used with potatoes and other root vegetables, they are also great teamed with mustard. Urad dal is an essential ingredient for making the famous idli (steamed rice cakes), a south Indian speciality.