Legume
French Green
A tier
French green lentils are small dark green-blue pulses in the Puy style grown outside the protected zone—or generically labelled. They share the firm, peppery salad performance at usually lower cost. Excellent weeknight stand-in when AOP Puy is unavailable. Cook as for Puy; taste for doneness early. Dress warm. Widely sold in North American specialty aisles as “French green lentils.” Shoppers meeting French Green for the first time should taste it plain before masking it; the Small Dark Green profile is easier to remember that way.
Track this ingredient
Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
North American growers and importers marketed French green style lentils widely.
Canadian production of small dark greens expanded export options.
Retail “French green” labels became shorthand for firm salad lentils.
French green remained the affordable Puy-style alternative.