Know the total calories in idli and its other nutrient components!
Idli is a popular South Indian breakfast prepared with fermented lentils and rice. A single piece has calories as low as 58 calories, which depends on its size. It is served with a side of chutney or sambar, which makes it a complete meal and keeps you full.
Knowing this is essential if you are tracking your calorie intake in a day. With the help of a calorie calculator on Bajaj Markets, you can keep track of your food intake. This is one of the easiest methods to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid gaining extra weight.
Depending on the size and the grains used, the calories in idli vary between 50 and 100. Most restaurants serve two pieces per order, but when you make it at home, there is no fixed amount of idlis that you can eat.
Here are the calories in idli per piece for different serving sizes and grains used.
Idli Serving |
Calorie count |
Small size idli (30 grams) |
61 cal |
Medium size idli (40 grams) |
81 cal |
Large size idli (50 grams) |
102 cal |
Bajra idli |
45 cal |
Barley idli |
63 cal |
Dalia idli |
53 cal |
Jowar idli |
63 cal |
Ragi idli |
52 cal |
Semolina idli |
58 cal |
Soya idli |
63 cal |
Disclaimer: These calorie counts are suggestive and can vary depending on the preparation method and ingredients.
Using this table and multiplying it with the number of idlis consumed will give you an estimate of your total calorie intake. This allows you to avoid overconsuming calories to maintain a healthy weight.
A calorie calculator is helpful if you want to know how many calories you should take in a day. This tool gives the maximum calorie count for the day based on height, weight, and activity level. Consuming calories less than your recommended amount can also help you lose unhealthy fats.
While you are aware of the calories present in various kinds of idlis, you need to understand the nutritional composition as well. Here is a breakdown of other nutrients in one serving of idli.
Nutrient |
Amount |
Energy |
33 kj |
Protein |
2.3g |
Carbohydrates |
12.5g |
Fat (Saturated) |
0.1g |
Fat (Monounsaturated) |
0.1g |
Fat (Polyunsaturated) |
0.2g |
Dietary Fibre |
12g |
Sodium |
47.1 mg |
Potassium |
41.1 mg |
Calcium |
10 mg |
Magnesium |
7.5 mg |
Iron |
0.6 mg |
Zinc |
0.2 mg |
Vitamin B3 |
0.3 mg |
Vitamin C |
0.2% |
Vitamin D |
0 mcg |
Folic Acid |
3.6 mcg |
Disclaimer: These nutrient facts are suggestive and can vary depending on the preparation method and ingredients.
No matter how healthy any food is, overindulgence can be a problem. Here are the drawbacks of eating idli for every meal.
Most people prepare idlis with rice and urad dal, which is high in carbohydrates and can spike the blood sugar level of diabetic patients.
Though 60 calories may not be much, they can quickly add up with overeating and cause weight gain.
The side servings of chutney and sambar contain high sodium, which is a problem for patients with hypertension and heart diseases.
The fermentation of idli can cause digestive problems, such as bloating and flatulence, due to high levels of phytic acid.
Plain idlis are low on many nutrients, which can lead to deficiencies in the long run.