Paneer Dosa vs Sambar

Per 100 g, Paneer Dosa has 243 kcal and 10.3 g protein, while Sambar has 97 kcal and 3.3 g protein.

Paneer Dosa

243
kcal per 100 g
10.3 g protein

Sambar

97
kcal per 100 g
3.3 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 Paneer Dosa Sambar Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 243 kcal 97 kcal better 60%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 10.3 g better 3.3 g 68%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 29.8 g 10.6 g better 64%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 8.9 g 4.4 g better 51%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 3.1 g 3.5 g better 11%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 4.8 g 3.3 g better 31%
"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?

Sambar

Sambar is the lighter choice at 97 kcal per 100 g against 243 for Paneer Dosa — about 60% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Paneer Dosa a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Paneer Dosa

Paneer Dosa is the stronger protein source, with 10.3 g per 100 g against 3.3 g for Sambar. To match that from Sambar you would have to eat roughly 3.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Paneer Dosa vs Sambar — common questions

Paneer Dosa has more calories — about 243 kcal per 100 g compared with 97 kcal for Sambar.

Paneer Dosa has more protein — 10.3 g per 100 g against 3.3 g for Sambar.

Sambar is the lighter choice at 97 kcal per 100 g against 243 for Paneer Dosa — about 60% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Paneer Dosa a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Paneer Dosa is the stronger protein source, with 10.3 g per 100 g against 3.3 g for Sambar. To match that from Sambar you would have to eat roughly 3.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 340 kcal and 13.6 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 Sambar has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Paneer Dosa has 243 kcal and 10.3 g protein, while Sambar has 97 kcal and 3.3 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Paneer Dosa nutrition & serving sizes
Full Sambar 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.