What are dry peas?

Peas probably originated in northwest Asia. In Thailand, peas have been found in caves that are over 11,000 years old. Dry peas are dried naturally by the late summer sun. They are most commonly split, which speeds cooking time. How are they split? During processing, peas are sorted. Then they are bombarded against a baffler, which causes them to split in two. Americans are most familiar with green peas, but yellow peas are also grown in the Palouse region of the US. They are most commonly consumed in Scandinavia and taste slightly different than green peas.

 

What is a lentil?

The lentil is a cousin of the bean, and both are a part of the legume family. All legumes are seeds that grow within pods. Lentils are shaped like a lens. In fact, lens is the Latin word for lentil. The size and appearance of lentils varies depending on the variety. The outer seed coat can be mottled or speckled, and ranges in color from reddish-brown to greyish-brown to green. The inner coat, or cotyledon, can be red or yellow.

 

What is a chickpea?

The chickpea was originally cultivated on the lands bordering Mesopotamia and the eastern Mediterranean. From there it spread to India and some parts of East Asia. Chickpeas are shaped with a beak resembling that of a baby chick. Chickpeas are also called garbanzo beans.