Dal Makhani vs Dalma

Per 100 g, Dal Makhani has 74 kcal and 3.3 g protein, while Dalma has 119 kcal and 4.9 g protein.

Dal Makhani

74
kcal per 100 g
3.3 g protein

Dalma

119
kcal per 100 g
4.9 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 Dal Makhani Dalma Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 74 kcal better 119 kcal 38%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 3.3 g 4.9 g better 33%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 7.9 g better 15.1 g 48%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 3.1 g better 4.6 g 33%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 2.3 g better 2.1 g 9%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 0.8 g better 3.1 g 74%
"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 Makhani

Dal Makhani is the lighter choice at 74 kcal per 100 g against 119 for Dalma — about 38% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Dalma a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Dalma

Dalma is the stronger protein source, with 4.9 g per 100 g against 3.3 g for Dal Makhani. To match that from Dal Makhani you would have to eat roughly 1.5 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target. Worth noting the trade-off: Dal Makhani is more efficient per calorie (4.5 g of protein per 100 kcal against 4.1 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Dal Makhani vs Dalma — common questions

Dalma has more calories — about 119 kcal per 100 g compared with 74 kcal for Dal Makhani.

Dalma has more protein — 4.9 g per 100 g against 3.3 g for Dal Makhani.

Dal Makhani is the lighter choice at 74 kcal per 100 g against 119 for Dalma — about 38% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Dalma a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Dalma is the stronger protein source, with 4.9 g per 100 g against 3.3 g for Dal Makhani. To match that from Dal Makhani you would have to eat roughly 1.5 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target. Worth noting the trade-off: Dal Makhani is more efficient per calorie (4.5 g of protein per 100 kcal against 4.1 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 193 kcal and 8.2 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 Makhani has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Dal Makhani has 74 kcal and 3.3 g protein, while Dalma has 119 kcal and 4.9 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Dal Makhani nutrition & serving sizes
Full Dalma 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.