Toor (Pigeon Pea)

About Toor (Pigeon Pea)

In India it is called toor, or tuvar in Gujarati. In English, it is most commonly called Pigeon Pea because it was a common pigeon food in Barbados. Tuvar is a lentil grown throughout the world in tropical and subtropical regions.

It is an everyday lentil in Gujarat. In particular we value the fresh tuvar lentil, which can be hard to find. It is typically sold as a split lentil which cannot be sprouted. Tuvar kichori is a highly-prized Gujarati specialty. Tuvar is a lentil of choice for many hearty dals. See our guide to Indian lentils, beans, and pulses for more on the topic.