Chicken curry vs dal tadka: calories and protein compared
Short answer: for fat loss pick chicken curry; for muscle gain chicken curry does more. The numbers are per usual serving, so check the serving sizes in the table.
| Per serving | Chicken curry | Dal tadka |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 1 katori · 200 g | 1 katori · 150 g |
| Calories | 312 kcal | 174 kcal |
| Protein | 24 g | 8 g |
| Carbs | 5 g | 22 g |
| Fat | 22 g | 6 g |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 7.6 g | 4.6 g |
| Calories from fat | 65% | 29% |
What the numbers say
- Chicken curry has 138 kcal more a serving than dal tadka. One serving of chicken curry has the calories of about 1.8 servings of dal tadka.
- Chicken curry has more protein: 24 g vs 8 g.
- For protein per calorie, chicken curry wins with 7.6 g per 100 kcal.
- They suit different diets: chicken curry is non-veg and dal tadka is vegetarian.
Which to pick
- Losing fat: Chicken curry, because it gives more protein for each calorie, which keeps you full and protects muscle.
- Building muscle: Chicken curry, because it brings more protein a serving.
- Either way: the cooking fat moves both numbers most. Halving the oil or ghee is the easiest cut.