Among the 7 varieties of Lens culinaris evaluated during 1991-92, the 1000-seed weight ranged from 19.2 g in VL1 to 32.8 g in Sehore 74-3. Seed protein content and energy value were highest (30.6% and 347 kcal/100 g) in K75. Sehore 74-7 had the highest crude fibre (5.66%), crude fat (2.56%) and iron (7.27 mg/100 g) contents. Sehore 34, K75 and PL77-12 took the least amount of time to cook (40 min). Cooking time was positively correlated with ash (r = 0.237), fibre (r = 0.178) and seed weight (r = 0.12) and negatively correlated with protein content (r = 0.193). K75 was considered the most promising in terms of nutritive value and consumer acceptability.