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Black gram (Urad) Nutrition facts

Black gram or vigna mungo beans are small, black, dry beans featuring prominently in Asian cuisine. Botanically, these tiny legumes belong to the Fabaceae or Leguminosae family in the genus: Vigna.

Scientific name: Vigna mungo L.

black gram-urad beans
Black gram (urad) beeans, whole and hulled.

The beans, popularly known as urad, are the fruit pods of a plant originally from India. It is an annual, drought-tolerant, dicotyledonous legume. It grows well in sandy, loam soil. Small, 4-7 cm long, hairy, cylindrical pods establish after 60-70 days of the seedling. Each pod encloses 6-10 seeds that are black, grayish, brown, or dark green. Inside they are a white creamy color.

Vigna mungo is divided into two subspecies.

  1. V. mungo var. niger: It includes varieties having early maturity and bears dark, black seeds.

  2. V. mungo var. viridis: It includes varieties which matured lately. Seeds are small and green.

Health benefits of Black gram

  1. Black gram beans hold 341 calories and provide 25.21 g or 45% of recommended daily values of protein. Though their calorie value is comparatively lesser, the beans carry a relatively higher protein composition than chickpeas.

  2. Black gram beans are unique among the legumes in having soluble mucilaginous polysaccharides. They compose excellent levels of dietary fiber which works as a bulk laxative that helps to protect the colon mucosa by decreasing its exposure time to toxic substances as well as by binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon. Dietary fiber has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels by decreasing the reabsorption of cholesterol-binding bile acids in the colon.

  3. Urad beans contain small fractions of isoflavones in them are glycitein, genistein, daidzein and formononetin. Isoflavones have been found to reduce post-menopausal cancers and osteoporosis.

  4. They are excellent sources of B-complex vitamins. At 216 μg or 54% of daily values per 100 g, folates are plentiful in them Folate, along with vitamin B-12, is one of the essential co-factor for DNA synthesis and cell division. Adequate folate in the diet around conception and during pregnancy may help prevent neural tube defects in the newborn baby.

  5. Additionally, they compose very good levels of many B-complex vitamins such as vitamin-B6-22%, thiamin-23%, pantothenic acid-18%, riboflavin-20%, and niacin-9% of daily recommended values. Most of these vitamins work as co-factors for the enzymes in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.

  6. Urad beans are also incredible sources of minerals. The beans are rich in iron at 7.57 mg or 95% of RDI. Iron improves memory power, and cognition and helps prevent anemia. Other minerals in ample quantities in these beans are calcium-14%, copper-109%, magnesium-67%, zinc-30%, and phosphorus-54% of DV (daily values)

  7. They are also rich in potassium, 983 mg (21%) per 100 g, nearly 1.5 times more than in chickpeas. Potassium electrolyte is present in cell and body fluids. It helps counter the pressing effects of sodium on heart and blood pressure.

Black gram nutrition facts

Selection and storage

Harvesting is done once the whole plant and seed pods turn yellow. Stacks dried under the sun. Normally, threshing and winnowing methods are employed for seed separation.

The black gram beans can be readily available in the stores all year round. Buy well-formed bold-black dry seeds in bins and packets. Ready-to-use, split, hulled, and cleaned beans are also sold in the shops.

At home, store dry beans in an air-sealed plastic/metallic bin and keep them in a cool, dry place away from high temperatures and humidity.


Preparation and serving ideas

Urad beans soaked for 6-10 hours before cooking. Soaking and pressure cooking consumes less time.

Immature urad pods are often used as vegetables. With a soft textured and strong taste, dried, mature urad seeds are prepared in the same way as other legumes.

Here are some serving tips:

dosa sambar
South-Indian style-Dosa sambar.

  • In India, they are hulled, split, and used with rice to make a sort of crepe (dosa), or the spiced lentil puree (dal makhani).

  • In South India, a mixed batter of rice and urad is used in the preparation of idli and urad vada (medu vada), served with coconut chutney and sambar (vegetable stew).

  • Ground into flour, urad is used to make confectionery, flatbreads, or bread.

  • In Sri Lanka and Kerala, a similar kind of batter is used in Uttappam, served with vegetables, fish, or chicken curry.

  • Hulled urad split lentils used to prepare papadum in many Indian provinces.

  • Whole beans can be sprouted, and used in salads.


Safety profile

In small quantities, black mungo is well-tolerated without flatulence problems, unlike chickpeas. Excessive consumption often causes gastritis and pain in the stomach. Allergy to these beans is a rare condition. (Medical disclaimer)



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Further Resources:

  1. USDA National Nutrient Database.

  2. Stanford School of Medicine Cancer information Page- Nutrition to Reduce Cancer Risk.

  3. Horticulture-Purdue University-New Opportunities in Vigna.




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