Grass-pea (Lathyrus Sativus) This little-known variety of pulse is rarely grown because it can only be cultivated by hand. It looks like a squashed chick-pea. It is an herbaceous plant, which grows on arid land, exposed to the sun. The stalks are harvested in August and left out to dry until threshed. Grass-peas are only sold as dried pulses and need to be soaked for a long time before cooking. They have a strong, rounded flavour and a high nutritional value.

Lentil: ( Lens Esculenta) This is a leguminous plant which derives its botanical name from the fact that it is shaped like a lens. It is possibly the oldest of all pulses, and is mentioned in the Bible. The plant is extremely resistant to cold conditions, with a life-cycle beginning with sowing in April and ending with harvest in July or August. It contains approximately the same amount of protein as meat, very little fat, a lot of natural fibre and mineral salts (sodium, potassium, iron and calcium), and a range of vitamins, notably from the B group. Lentils can be eaten on their own in a soup or as an accompaniment to cooked meats such as sausages or “cotechino” (a variety of spiced sausage). It is traditionally believed that riches will follow if one eats lentils for supper on New Year’s Eve.