Dal vs Palak Paneer

Per 100 g, Dal has 80 kcal and 5.7 g protein, while Palak Paneer has 110 kcal and 7 g protein.

Dal

80
kcal per 100 g
5.7 g protein

Palak Paneer

110
kcal per 100 g
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 Dal Palak Paneer Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 80 kcal better 110 kcal 27%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 5.7 g 7 g better 19%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 12 g 4 g better 67%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 1.3 g better 7.5 g 83%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 2.7 g better 1.5 g 44%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 1.7 g 1 g better 41%
"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 110 for Palak Paneer — about 27% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Palak Paneer a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is the stronger protein source, with 7 g per 100 g against 5.7 g for Dal. To match that from Dal you would have to eat roughly 1.2 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 6.4 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Dal vs Palak Paneer — common questions

Palak Paneer has more calories — about 110 kcal per 100 g compared with 80 kcal for Dal.

Palak Paneer has more protein — 7 g per 100 g against 5.7 g for Dal.

Dal is the lighter choice at 80 kcal per 100 g against 110 for Palak Paneer — about 27% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Palak Paneer a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Palak Paneer is the stronger protein source, with 7 g per 100 g against 5.7 g for Dal. To match that from Dal you would have to eat roughly 1.2 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 6.4 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 190 kcal and 12.7 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, Dal has 80 kcal and 5.7 g protein, while Palak Paneer has 110 kcal and 7 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Dal nutrition & serving sizes
Full Palak Paneer nutrition & serving sizes

Other comparisons

Dal vs Biryani Dal vs Paratha Dal vs Rajma Dal vs Roti Dal vs Rice Dal vs Chicken Curry

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.