What Type of Lentil is Urad Dal? Understanding the Black Gram
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                Botanically known as *Vigna mungo*, urad dal is not a true lentil (*Lens culinaris*) but rather a type of black gram, closely related to the mung bean. This distinction is important for understanding its unique texture, flavor profile, and wide-ranging uses in South Asian cooking.