Quick Answer: The lentil is an annual legume grown for its lens-shaped edible seeds or pulses, also called lentils. It is about 40 cm tall, and the seeds grow in pods, usually with two seeds in each. Lentil seeds are used around the world for culinary purposes, most commonly in stews or soups. In cuisines of the Indian subcontinent, where lentils are a staple, split lentils known as dal are often cooked into a thick curry that is usually eaten with rice or roti.