Are lentils kosher for Passover

Answer 1

It depends - if you are of Sephardic descent - from Spain, Portugal or North Africa - then yes. If you're from an Ashkenazi background - the rest of Europe - then lentils fall into the category of kitniyot, small things, which have traditionally not been eating during Passover. This tradition stems from the fact that flour can be made from kitniyot, which increases your chances of accidentally consuming chametz or may cause others to believe you are consuming chametz. However, although this tradition has been upheld for many centuries and is supported by most rabbis, it is not based on the Torah and as such many Jews do eat kitniyot during Passover - not least of all because so many people are vegetarian or vegan, and kitniyot are an important source of protein.