Besan Barfi vs Kaddu Halwa

Per 100 g, Besan Barfi has 423 kcal and 11.3 g protein, while Kaddu Halwa has 190 kcal and 1.3 g protein.

Besan Barfi

423
kcal per 100 g
11.3 g protein

Kaddu Halwa

190
kcal per 100 g
1.3 g protein

Nutrition compared, per 100 g

Both foods are shown per 100 g so the numbers are directly comparable. A single serving of each is a different size, so serving-for-serving figures would not tell you much.

Nutrient Besan Barfi Kaddu Halwa Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 423 kcal 190 kcal better 55%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 11.3 g better 1.3 g 89%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 46.7 g 27.6 g better 41%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 22.3 g 8.8 g better 61%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 3.3 g better 3 g 9%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 28.3 g 26.6 g better 6%
"Better" marks the more favourable value for a general healthy-eating goal, not a judgement about the food overall. Differences under 5% are treated as equivalent.

Which is better for weight loss?

Kaddu Halwa

Kaddu Halwa is the lighter choice at 190 kcal per 100 g against 423 for Besan Barfi — about 55% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Besan Barfi a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Besan Barfi

Besan Barfi is the stronger protein source, with 11.3 g per 100 g against 1.3 g for Kaddu Halwa. To match that from Kaddu Halwa you would have to eat roughly 8.7 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Besan Barfi vs Kaddu Halwa — common questions

Besan Barfi has more calories — about 423 kcal per 100 g compared with 190 kcal for Kaddu Halwa.

Besan Barfi has more protein — 11.3 g per 100 g against 1.3 g for Kaddu Halwa.

Kaddu Halwa is the lighter choice at 190 kcal per 100 g against 423 for Besan Barfi — about 55% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Besan Barfi a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Besan Barfi is the stronger protein source, with 11.3 g per 100 g against 1.3 g for Kaddu Halwa. To match that from Kaddu Halwa you would have to eat roughly 8.7 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 613 kcal and 12.6 g protein per 100 g of each. Indian meals are usually built from pairs like this, and mixing a grain with a protein source generally makes for a better-balanced plate than either on its own.

For most everyday goals Kaddu Halwa has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Besan Barfi has 423 kcal and 11.3 g protein, while Kaddu Halwa has 190 kcal and 1.3 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Besan Barfi nutrition & serving sizes
Full Kaddu Halwa nutrition & serving sizes

Data source: nutrition values are drawn from the Indian Nutrient Databank (INDB), Vijayakumar et al., Curr Dev Nutr 2024;8(7):103790, used under CC BY 4.0, and derived from the ICMR-NIN Indian Food Composition Tables. Values vary with recipe, oil used and regional style.

General information only, not medical advice. See our disclaimer.