lentils
Lentils feature greatly in Indian recipes where they are called dahl. There are several varieties, and they require different cooking times depending on they type.
In the Middle East they are referred to as mejadra. It is common to find rice and lentil dishes both in North Africa, the Middle East and India. In Europe for example there are salads made with lentils.
Because they are a legume, they are high in dietary fiber as well as many other nutrients.
As far as its history is concerned, lentils are one of the oldest pulse crop known. Remains have been found in settlements dating to 11,000 BCE. they are thought to have originated in the Near East and Central Asia.