Dal vs Pav Bhaji

Per 100 g, Dal has 80 kcal and 5.7 g protein, while Pav Bhaji has 133 kcal and 2.7 g protein.

Dal

80
kcal per 100 g
5.7 g protein

Pav Bhaji

133
kcal per 100 g
2.7 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 Pav Bhaji Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 80 kcal better 133 kcal 40%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 5.7 g better 2.7 g 53%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 12 g better 15 g 20%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 1.3 g better 6.7 g 81%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 2.7 g better 1.3 g 52%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 1.7 g better 2 g 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 133 for Pav Bhaji — about 40% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Pav Bhaji a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Dal

Dal is the stronger protein source, with 5.7 g per 100 g against 2.7 g for Pav Bhaji. To match that from Pav Bhaji you would have to eat roughly 2.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Dal vs Pav Bhaji — common questions

Pav Bhaji has more calories — about 133 kcal per 100 g compared with 80 kcal for Dal.

Dal has more protein — 5.7 g per 100 g against 2.7 g for Pav Bhaji.

Dal is the lighter choice at 80 kcal per 100 g against 133 for Pav Bhaji — about 40% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Pav Bhaji a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Dal is the stronger protein source, with 5.7 g per 100 g against 2.7 g for Pav Bhaji. To match that from Pav Bhaji you would have to eat roughly 2.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 213 kcal and 8.4 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 Pav Bhaji has 133 kcal and 2.7 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 Pav Bhaji nutrition & serving sizes

Other comparisons

Dal vs Biryani Dal vs Rajma Dal vs Rice Dal vs Samosa Dal vs Plain Pulao Dal vs Mutton Biryani

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.