Masala dosa calories
One regular masala dosa (25 cm, cooked with 1 teaspoon of oil, 100 g of potato masala) has about 280 kcal, 7 g of protein, 45 g of carbohydrate and 8 g of fat. With a katori of coconut chutney and a bowl of sambar, the plate comes to about 473 kcal. Butter and ghee versions are 350–385 kcal per dosa.
Masala dosa calorie calculator
Pick the size, the fat, the filling and the sides. The total updates as you change each option.
How many calories does each type of masala dosa have?
The table lists the common varieties at the regular 25 cm size. The note under each name shows what the estimate assumes.
| Dosa | kcal | Protein (g) | Carbs (g) | Fat (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain dosaNo filling, 1 tsp oil | 180 | 4.6 | 28.9 | 4.9 |
| Masala dosa1 tsp oil, 100 g potato masala | 280 | 6.7 | 45.2 | 8.1 |
| Podi masala dosa1 tsp oil, 10 g podi, 100 g masala | 315 | 8.7 | 51.2 | 8.7 |
| Ghee podi masala dosa2 tsp ghee, 10 g podi, 100 g masala | 353 | 8.7 | 51.2 | 13.2 |
| Benne masala dosa15 g butter, 100 g masala | 348 | 6.9 | 45.2 | 15.8 |
| Mysore masala dosa2 tsp oil, 15 g red chutney, 100 g masala | 357 | 7.8 | 49.6 | 14.6 |
| Paper masala dosa1.3× batter, 2 tsp oil, 100 g masala | 362 | 8.1 | 53.9 | 12.7 |
| Open butter masala dosa20 g butter, 100 g masala | 384 | 6.9 | 45.2 | 19.8 |
| Masala dosa with chutney and sambarMasala dosa + 40 g coconut chutney + 150 ml sambar | 473 | 12 | 66 | 18.8 |
The most common calorie searches have simple answers. One masala dosa has about 280 kcal. One plain dosa has about 180 kcal. A Mysore masala dosa has about 357 kcal, a benne masala dosa about 348 kcal, and a full plate of masala dosa with coconut chutney and sambar about 473 kcal.
Where do the calories in a masala dosa come from?
In a regular home-style masala dosa, the dosa itself supplies about half the calories: 140 of the 280. The potato masala adds about 100 kcal and the teaspoon of oil about 40 kcal. The batter and potato also supply nearly all of the 45 g of carbohydrate.
The fat is the part that changes most between kitchens. One teaspoon of oil or ghee adds about 40 kcal. Ten grams of butter, a typical dab on a benne dosa, adds about 72 kcal, and some restaurants use 20 g or more. Coconut chutney is the other hidden source: a 40 g katori adds about 91 kcal, mostly fat from the coconut.
| Component | kcal | Protein (g) | Carbs (g) | Fat (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dosa (regular, 25 cm) | 140 | 4.6 | 28.9 | 0.4 |
| Oil, 1 tsp (4.5 g) | 40 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 |
| Ghee, 1 tsp (4.5 g) | 39 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 |
| Butter, 10 g | 72 | 0.1 | 0 | 8.1 |
| Potato masala, 100 g | 100 | 2.1 | 16.3 | 3.2 |
| Mysore red chutney, 15 g | 37 | 1.1 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Podi (gunpowder), 10 g | 35 | 2 | 6 | 0.6 |
| Coconut chutney, 40 g | 91 | 1.6 | 5.8 | 7.3 |
| Sambar, 150 ml bowl | 102 | 3.7 | 15 | 3.4 |
How MasalaDosa.in calculates these numbers
Every figure on this page is calculated from ingredient weights, using nutrition values per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central, the United States Department of Agriculture’s public nutrient database. The values used are: raw white rice 365 kcal, urad dal (black gram) 341 kcal, chickpea 364 kcal (standing in for chana dal and roasted gram), fenugreek seed 323 kcal, vegetable oil 884 kcal, butter 717 kcal, ghee 876 kcal, raw potato 77 kcal, onion 40 kcal, fresh coconut 354 kcal and toor dal 343 kcal.
The dosa figure comes from the batter in the masala dosa recipe: 600 g rice, 200 g urad dal, 25 g chana dal, 5 g fenugreek and 25 g poha, which makes about 22 regular dosas. One dosa is one twenty-second of that batter, about 140 kcal. Water adds weight but no calories, so a thicker or thinner batter does not change the count as long as the dosa uses the same share of the batch.
The potato masala figure assumes 100 g of cooked masala contains 80 g of potato, 15 g of onion, 3 g of oil and a little dal from the tempering. Coconut chutney assumes 18 g of coconut and 5 g of roasted gram in a 40 g serving. Sambar assumes 12 g of toor dal, 40 g of vegetables and 3 g of oil in a 150 ml bowl.
These are estimates, not lab measurements. A restaurant dosa can differ by 20% or more depending on how much batter, oil and filling the cook uses. If you track calories for a medical reason, weigh your portions and ask a dietitian.
Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy dataset.
Is masala dosa good for weight loss?
A masala dosa can fit a calorie-controlled diet because a home-style one is under 300 kcal. It is mostly carbohydrate and fairly low in protein, about 7 g per dosa, so it keeps you full for less time than a higher-protein meal of the same size.
The choices that make the biggest difference are the fat and the portion. Cooking on a non-stick pan with half a teaspoon of oil instead of one saves about 20 kcal. Skipping extra butter saves 72 kcal for every 10 g. Choosing sambar over a second katori of coconut chutney adds protein and vegetables instead of fat.
How to cut calories in a masala dosa
- Use 1/2 tsp of oil on a well-heated non-stick pan: about 20 kcal less than 1 tsp.
- Fill with 75 g of potato masala instead of 100 g: about 25 kcal less.
- Ask for the butter on the side, or skip it: 72 kcal less for every 10 g.
- Have sambar and one katori of chutney instead of two: about 90 kcal less.
- Add vegetables such as carrot, beans or peas to the potato masala to bulk it up for very few calories.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in 1 masala dosa?
One regular 25 cm masala dosa cooked with 1 teaspoon of oil and filled with 100 g of potato masala has about 280 kcal. A small 20 cm home dosa is closer to 240 kcal, and a large restaurant dosa with extra oil can pass 400 kcal.
How many calories are in a masala dosa with sambar and chutney?
A regular masala dosa with a 40 g katori of coconut chutney and a 150 ml bowl of sambar comes to about 473 kcal. The chutney adds about 91 kcal and the sambar about 102 kcal.
How many calories are in a plain dosa?
A regular 25 cm plain dosa cooked with 1 teaspoon of oil has about 180 kcal: about 140 kcal from the batter and 40 kcal from the oil.
How many calories are in a Mysore masala dosa?
A Mysore masala dosa has about 357 kcal. It carries about 37 kcal of red garlic-chilli chutney and is usually cooked with 2 teaspoons of oil or ghee instead of one.
How many calories are in a benne masala dosa?
A benne masala dosa cooked with 15 g of butter has about 348 kcal. Each extra 10 g of butter adds about 72 kcal, so a heavily buttered restaurant benne dosa can reach 400 kcal or more.
How much protein is in a masala dosa?
A regular masala dosa has about 7 g of protein, mostly from the urad dal in the batter. A bowl of sambar adds about 4 g more.
Is masala dosa high in carbs?
Yes. A regular masala dosa has about 45 g of carbohydrate, from the rice in the batter and the potato in the filling. That is about two-thirds of its calories.
Why do restaurant masala dosas have more calories?
Restaurants often use a larger ladle of batter, 2 teaspoons or more of oil, ghee or butter, and a bigger scoop of potato masala. Together these can add 100–150 kcal to the home-style figure of about 280 kcal.