Chana Masala vs Dal

Per 100 g, Chana Masala has 120 kcal and 6 g protein, while Dal has 80 kcal and 5.7 g protein.

Chana Masala

120
kcal per 100 g
6 g protein

Dal

80
kcal per 100 g
5.7 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 Chana Masala Dal Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 120 kcal 80 kcal better 33%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 6 g better 5.7 g 5%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 18 g 12 g better 33%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 3 g 1.3 g better 57%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 5 g better 2.7 g 46%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 2 g 1.7 g better 15%
"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?

Dal

Dal is the lighter choice at 80 kcal per 100 g against 120 for Chana Masala — about 33% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Chana Masala a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Chana Masala

Chana Masala is the stronger protein source, with 6 g per 100 g against 5.7 g for Dal. To match that from Dal you would have to eat roughly 1.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target. Worth noting the trade-off: Dal is more efficient per calorie (7.1 g of protein per 100 kcal against 5 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Chana Masala vs Dal — common questions

Chana Masala has more calories — about 120 kcal per 100 g compared with 80 kcal for Dal.

Chana Masala has more protein — 6 g per 100 g against 5.7 g for Dal.

Dal is the lighter choice at 80 kcal per 100 g against 120 for Chana Masala — about 33% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Chana Masala a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Chana Masala is the stronger protein source, with 6 g per 100 g against 5.7 g for Dal. To match that from Dal you would have to eat roughly 1.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target. Worth noting the trade-off: Dal is more efficient per calorie (7.1 g of protein per 100 kcal against 5 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 200 kcal and 11.7 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 Dal has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Chana Masala has 120 kcal and 6 g protein, while Dal has 80 kcal and 5.7 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Chana Masala nutrition & serving sizes
Full Dal nutrition & serving sizes

Other comparisons

Chana Masala vs Biryani Chana Masala vs Tandoori Chicken Chana Masala vs Rajma Chana Masala vs Rice Chana Masala vs Egg Chana Masala vs Plain Pulao

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.