Calories in Dal Makhani
A 1-cup serving of restaurant-style dal makhani (~250g) is approximately 320 kcal — slow-cooked black lentils with cream and butter.
Nutrition by portion size
| Portion | kcal | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Fiber (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup dal makhani (~250g) | 320 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 8 |
| Home-style (less cream/butter) | 220 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| 1/2 cup (~125g) | 160 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| 100g dal makhani | 128 | 12 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 3.2 |
Glycemic index
32
About these numbers
Dal makhani is the cream-rich version of dal — black lentils slow-cooked with butter, cream, and tomatoes. Compared to plain dal (230 kcal/cup), the cream and butter additions push calorie content to 320 kcal/cup for restaurant-style preparations. Nutritionally still strong (high fiber, decent protein, low GI) but calorie-dense.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many calories in dal makhani?
- Restaurant-style: ~320 kcal per cup. Home-style with less cream/butter: ~220 kcal per cup. Restaurant entree portions: 450-550 kcal.
- Is dal makhani healthier than other dal?
- Less so. The cream and butter add 100+ kcal per cup vs plain dal. The lentil benefits (fiber, protein, low GI) are preserved but partially offset by the saturated fat load.
- Diabetes-friendly?
- Moderately. GI is low (32), but glycemic load per cup is ~9 (low). Fine in moderate portions; pair with reduced rice/naan.
- Weight loss?
- Home-style works (220 kcal/cup); restaurant style is calorie-heavy (320+ kcal/cup). Stick to half-cup portions of restaurant dal makhani.
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