South Asian Food Cheat Sheet
South Asian Food Cheat Sheet
South Asian Food Cheat Sheet
portions
under 500
calories
about this
guide
- Nathan Johnson
CEO, Autonomy
POHA
Approximately 1 to 1.5
standard dinner plates of
cooked poha with
vegetables. Poha is a
traditional Indian dish made
with flattened rice, often
seasoned with mustard
seeds, turmeric, and
garnished with coriander
Photo Credit: Simmer to Slimmer leaves.
UPMA
Around 1 to 1.5 standard
dinner plates of cooked
semolina (suji) with
vegetables. Upma is a
savoury porridge-like dish
made from coarse rice flour
or semolina, typically
seasoned with mustard
seeds, curry leaves, and
mixed with vegetables. Photo Credit: Simmer to Slimmer
IDLI WITH
SAMBAR
MASALA DOSA
1 medium-sized dosa stuffed
with a mixture of potatoes and
spices, served with 50% of a
standard dinner plate of
coconut chutney and sambar.
Masala dosa is a fermented
crepe made from rice batter,
and the filling includes spiced
mashed potatoes. Photo Credit: Cook with Manali
PARATHA
WITH
CURD
CHANA CHAAT
Approximately 1.5 standard
dinner plates of chickpea
chaat with chopped onions,
tomatoes, cucumber, and
spices. Chana chaat is a
savoury chickpea salad,
seasoned with various spices
and garnished with fresh
vegetables.
Photo Credit: Red Online
VEGETABLE
UTTAPAM
Approximately 2 medium-sized
uttapams topped with onions,
tomatoes, capsicum, and
cilantro. Uttapam is a thick
pancake made from fermented
rice and urad dal batter, often
Photo Credit: One teaspoon of Life topped with vegetables.
ALOO PURI
2 whole wheat puris
with a side of potato
curry, served on a
standard dinner plate.
Aloo puri consists of
deep-fried bread (puri)
paired with a spiced
potato curry.
Photo Credit: Delishably
OATS
UPMA
EGG BHURJI
WITH TOAST
Add Approximately 1
standard dinner plate of
egg bhurji served with 2
slices of whole grain toast.
Egg bhurji is a spiced
scrambled egg dish. Photo Credit: Seriouseats
CHICKEN TIKKA
MASALA (250G)
WITH BASMATI RICE
TANDOORI CHICKEN
(1 PIECE, ABOUT 150G) WITH
CUCUMBER RAITA (50G)
AND GRILLED VEGETABLES
(100G)
Tandoori chicken, marinated
in yoghurt and spices,
cooked in a tandoor (clay
oven), served with a
refreshing cucumber raita
and grilled vegetables. Photo Credit: Sugar Spice & More
CHANA MASALA
STEAMED BROCCOLI
(100G)
Chana masala, a flavorful
chickpea curry, paired with
brown rice and a side of
steamed broccoli.
Photo Credit: Flannerys
TOMATO SALAD
(100G)
Palak paneer, a creamy
spinach and cottage cheese
curry, served with a soft roti
Photo Credit: Shweta in the Kitchen and a cucumber-tomato
salad.
WHEAT CHAPATI
(1 PIECE) AND
SPINACH SALAD
(100G)
Dal tadka, a flavorful
tempered lentil curry, paired
with whole wheat chapati
and a spinach salad.
Photo Credit: Udupi Recipes
(200G) WITH
BASMATI RICE (50G)
AND ROASTED
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
(100G)
Masoor dal, a red lentil curry,
accompanied by basmati
rice and roasted Brussels
sprouts.
Photo Credit: Robin-Ellis
(150G) WITH
MILLET (50G) AND
STIR-FRIED BELL
PEPPERS (100G)
Bhindi masala, spiced
okra curry, paired with
millet and stir-fried bell
peppers.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Curry
(1 SERVING, ABOUT
200G) WITH A SIDE
OF CUCUMBER AND
TOMATO SLICES
(100G)
Samosa chaat, a popular
street food, featuring
mashed samosas topped
with flavorful chutneys and
Photo Credit: Green heart of love
spices, served with
cucumber and tomato slices.
(200G) WITH
BROWN RICE
(50G) AND
GRILLED
EGGPLANT (100G
Tofu tikka, marinated and
grilled tofu, served with
brown rice and grilled
Photo Credit: Watch What U Eat eggplant.
(200G) WITH
CUCUMBER RAITA
MUSHROOM MASALA
(200G) WITH WHOLE
WHEAT ROTI (1 PIECE)
AND MIXED GREENS (100G)
Mushroom masala, a
savoury mushroom curry,
served with whole wheat
roti and mixed greens.
(100G)
Aloo methi, a potato and
fenugreek curry, paired with
brown rice and stir-fried
green beans.
CHILLA(2 PIECES,
ABOUT 150G) WITH
MINT CHUTNEY
(30G)
Moong dal chilla, savoury
pancakes made from mung
beans, served with mint
chutney.
Photo Credit: Fun Food Frolic
SAMOSA CHAAT (1
SERVING, ABOUT 200G)
WITH A SIDE OF CUCUMBER
AND TOMATO SLICES (100G)
Samosa chaat, mashed
samosas topped with
chutneys and spices,
served with cucumber and
tomato slices.
Photo Credit: J Cooking Odyssey
CUCUMBER RAITA
(50G) WITH
CARROT STICKS
(100G
Cucumber raita, a
yoghurt-based side dish
with cucumber, paired
with carrot sticks.
(200G) WITH
WHOLE WHEAT
TOAST
(1 SLICE)
Tofu bhurji, a spiced
scrambled tofu dish,
served with whole wheat
toast
Photo Credit: .Indian veggie delight
PAPAD KI SABZI
(150G) WITH
STEAMED BROWN
RICE (50G)
Papad ki sabzi, a curry
made from lentil wafers,
served with steamed
brown rice
Photo Credit: Mad about Kitchen.
METHI THEPLA (2
PIECES, ABOUT
100G ) WITH
MINT CHUTNEY
(30G)
Methi thepla, flatbreads
made with fenugreek leaves,
served with mint chutney.
Photo Credit: The whisk Addict
VEGETABLE DALIA
(150G) WITH A SIDE
OF MIXED SALAD
(100G)
Vegetable dalia, cracked
wheat cooked with
vegetables, served with a
side of mixed salad.
Photo Credit: Whisk Affair
SARSON DA
SAAG (150G)
WITH MAKKI KI
ROTI (1 PIECE):
Sarson da saag, mustard
greens curry, served with
makki ki roti.
PER PIECE )
A deep-fried pastry filled
with spiced potatoes,
peas, and sometimes
meat. It's triangular and
has a crispy, flaky
exterior.
Photo Credit: Food Network
KACHORI (150-250
CALORIES PER
PIECE)
A round, fried bread
made from refined flour
and filled with a mixture
of moong dal and spices.
PER CUP )
A savoury snack made of
puffed rice, vegetables, and
a tangy tamarind sauce. It's
light, crunchy, and often
served with a variety of
chutneys.
Photo Credit: Honey What’s Cooking
PAKORA (50-100
CALORIES PER
PIECE)
Deep-fried fritters made
with gram flour and a
variety of fillings like
vegetables, paneer, or
chicken. They are crispy
and golden brown.
Photo Credit: Kitchen Sanctuary
DHOKLA (80-100
CALORIES PER
PIECE )
A steamed, savoury cake
made from rice and chickpea
flour. It's light, fluffy, and
typically served with green
chutney.
(150-200
CALORIES PER
CUP )
A spicy street food made
from fried potatoes, spices,
and various chutneys. It's
tangy and savoury.
Photo Credit: Tarla Dalal
CUP )
Flattened rice cooked with
spices, onions, and often
mixed with peas and
peanuts. It's a light and easy-
to-digest meal.
Photo Credit: Indischwindisch
KHANDVI (40-60
CALORIES PER PIECE)
A delicate snack made
from gram flour and
yoghurt, rolled into thin
layers and seasoned with
mustard seeds and curry
leaves.
(150-200
CALORIES PER
100G )
Marinated pieces of paneer
(Indian cottage cheese)
grilled to perfection. It's a
popular vegetarian
Photo Credit: Healthify me alternative to chicken tikka.
(150-200
CALORIES PER
PIECE )
A popular Mumbai snack,
consisting of a potato
fritter stuffed inside a
bread bun.
Photo Credit: Hub Pages
(100-150
CALORIES PER
CUP )
A dish made with crispy
dough wafers (papri),
boiled chickpeas, potatoes,
yoghurt, and tamarind
chutney.
Photo Credit: Manus Menu
(150-200
CALORIES PER
PIECE )
Bread slices filled with
spiced potato mixture,
coated in gram flour batter,
and deep-fried.
Photo Credit: Cubes n Juliennes
CHIVDA (100-150
CALORIES PER CUP)
A savoury snack mix made
from dried rice flakes, nuts,
spices, and sometimes
dried fruits. It's crunchy
and very addictive.
(150-200
CALORIES PER
DOSA )
A thin, crispy rice and lentil
crepe filled with a spicy
potato filling. It's served
with coconut chutney and
sambar.
Photo Credit: Apollo Sugar
(150-200
CALORIES PER
100G )
A vegetarian alternative to
meat, made from soya
beans and spices. It's often
grilled or cooked in rich
gravies
Photo Credit: The Statesman
BALLS (100-150
CALORIES PER
PIECE )
Deep-fried balls made
from a mixture of cheese,
corn, and spices. They're
crunchy on the outside
and gooey on the inside.
Photo Credit: Naturally Nidhi
(1 PIECE: 100-150
CALORIES)
CHILLI PANEER
(1 SERVING: 200-300
CALORIES)
A popular Indo-Chinese dish,
Chilli Paneer is made with
cubes of paneer (Indian
cottage cheese) sautéed with
bell peppers, onions, and spicy
chilli sauce. It is often served
as a flavorful appetizer or side
dish. Photo Credit: Yellow Chilis
CORN CHAAT
(1 CUP: 100-150
CALORIES)
KESARI (1 SERVING:
150-200 CALORIES)
Kesari is a sweet, saffron-
infused semolina pudding.
It's a popular South Indian
dessert made with ghee
(clarified butter), sugar, and
flavoured with cardamom,
often garnished with nuts
and dried fruits.
Photo Credit: Veg Recipes of India
VEGETABLE
CUTLET (1 PIECE:
100-150
CALORIES )
These are crispy, deep-fried
patties made from a mix of
mashed vegetables, spices,
and breadcrumbs. They are
often served with chutneys
or ketchup as a snack or
Photo Credit: Sharmis Passions appetizer.
GATHIYA (50G:
APPROXIMATELY 200-
250 CALORIES)
Gathiya is a crunchy, spicy,
and slightly thick snack
made from chickpea flour.
It's a staple in Gujarati
cuisine and is often enjoyed
with a cup of tea. Photo Credit: Janifarsan
MURUKKU (50G:
APPROXIMATEL
Y 200-250
CALORIES )
A South Indian snack,
Murukku is made from rice
flour and urad dal flour,
seasoned with sesame
seeds, cumin, and
sometimes garlic. It has a
distinct spiral shape and is
Photo Credit: Indian Healthy Recipe known for its crispy texture.
200-250
CALORIES )
A small, thin, crunchy noodle-
like snack made from
chickpea flour paste,
flavoured with turmeric and
ajwain (carom seeds), and
Photo Credit:Tarla Dalal deep-fried until crisp.
MATHRI (50G:
APPROXIMATELY 200-
250 CALORIES)
A traditional North Indian
snack, Mathri is a flaky biscuit
made from flour, water, and
cumin seeds. It's deep-fried
and can be enjoyed plain or
with pickles.
Photo Credit: Indian Healthy Recipe
CHAKLI (50G:
APPROXIMATEL
Y 200-250
CALORIES : )
Chakli is a spiral-shaped,
crunchy snack made from
rice flour, gram flour, and
spices like sesame seeds
and carom seeds. It's deep-
fried and known for its spicy
Photo Credit: Shweta in the Kitchen and savoury taste.
PAKORA (50G:
APPROXIMATELY 150-200
CALORIES, CAN VARY BASED
ON INGREDIENTS)
Pakoras are Indian fritters made
by dipping vegetables, paneer,
or meat in a spiced gram flour
batter and deep-frying them.
The ingredients and spices
used can vary, which also
Photo Credit: Indian Healthy Recipe
affects the calorie count.
BHAKARWADI
(50G:
APPROXIMATELY
250-300
CALORIES )
A traditional Maharashtrian
snack, Bhakarwadi is a sweet
and spicy rolled pastry filled
with a mixture of coconut,
sesame seeds, and poppy
Photo Credit: What’s Cooking Mom
seeds, and then deep-fried.
SHAKARPARA (50G:
APPROXIMATELY 200-
250 CALORIES)
These are sweet, bite-sized,
diamond-shaped pieces of
dough (made of flour, ghee,
and sugar), deep-fried till
they turn golden brown. They
are a popular festive snack.
Photo Credit: Piping Pot Curry
KHAKRA (50G:
APPROXIMATEL
Y 150-200
CALORIES )
Khakra is a thin, crispy
flatbread typically made
from whole wheat flour and
spices. It is a staple in
Gujarati cuisine and is often
Photo Credit: Archana's Kitchen enjoyed as a light snack.
TABLESPOON
CHUTNEY 1
TABLESPOON
MINT CHUTNEY 1
TABLESPOON (15 ML):
AROUND 5-10 CALORIES
A refreshing condiment made
from fresh mint leaves,
cilantro, lemon juice, and
spices. It's commonly used in
Indian cuisine as a dip or
spread.
Photo Credit: Fun Food Frolic
TOMATO CHUTNEY 1
CALORIES
MANGO PICKLE 1
TABLESPOON (15 ML):
AROUND 15-20 CALORIES
Mango pickle is a spicy and
tangy condiment made from
unripe mangoes, oil, and a
mix of spices. It's a common
accompaniment in Indian
meals, adding a burst of
flavour. Photo Credit: Mangalore Cook Book
RAITA(CUCUMBER AND
YOGURT) 1
AROUND 10-15
CALORIES
MUSTARD SAUCE 1
TABLESPOON (15 ML):
AROUND 10-15 CALORIES
A tangy and spicy sauce
made from mustard seeds,
vinegar, and various
seasonings. It's widely used
as a condiment in Western
cuisine.
Photo Credit: Alexandra Cooks
SOY SAUCE 1
TABLESPOON (15
)
ML : AROUND 10-
15 CALORIES
CHUTNEY 1
TABLESPOON (15
)
ML : AROUND 5-10
CALORIES