Dals & Legumes

Glycemic index and nutrition data for 14 Indian dals & legumes items.

Moong Dal

मूंग दाल · పెసర పప్పు

Split green gram, one of the lightest and most easily digestible dals. Low GI and high in protein.

North IndianSouth IndianGujarati+1
GL 5105 kcal1 medium bowl (cooked)

Toor Dal (Arhar)

तुअर दाल · కందిపప్పు

Split pigeon peas, the most widely consumed dal across India. Used in sambar, dal fry, and rasam.

South IndianNorth IndianGujarati+1
GL 4120 kcal1 medium bowl (cooked)

Chana Dal

चना दाल · శనగపప్పు

Split Bengal gram, one of the lowest GI foods available. Excellent source of protein and complex carbohydrates.

North IndianSouth IndianBengali
GL 1130 kcal1 medium bowl (cooked)

Rajma (Kidney Beans)

राजमा · రాజ్మా

Red kidney beans, a North Indian staple especially in Punjabi cuisine. Excellent protein source with low GI.

North IndianPunjabi
GL 5140 kcal1 medium bowl (cooked)

Chole (Chickpeas)

छोले · చోళాలు / సెనగలు

Whole chickpeas cooked in spiced gravy. A Punjab-origin dish now popular nationwide. High in protein and fiber.

North IndianPunjabi
GL 7160 kcal1 medium bowl

Masoor Dal (Red Lentils)

मसूर दाल · మసూర్ పప్పు

Red/orange lentils that cook quickly. One of the most affordable protein sources in India. Low GI with good iron content.

North IndianBengaliSouth Indian
GL 4115 kcal1 medium bowl (cooked)

Urad Dal (Black Gram)

उड़द दाल · మినపప్పు

Split black gram, base of idli/dosa batter and dal makhani. Very high in protein and iron. Low GI.

North IndianSouth IndianPunjabi
GL 5130 kcal1 medium bowl (cooked)

Black-Eyed Peas (Lobia)

लोबिया · అలసందలు / బొబ్బర్లు

Versatile legume used in curries, salads, and sundal. Good protein and fiber with low GI. Popular across India.

North IndianSouth IndianPunjabi+1
GL 6130 kcal1 medium bowl (cooked)

Kala Chana (Black Chickpeas, boiled)

काला चना · నల్ల శనగలు

Whole brown-black chickpeas, boiled. A protein- and fiber-rich legume with a low glycemic index, popular across India as a salad base, curry, or snack.

North IndianPunjabiSouth Indian
GL 8164 kcal1 small bowl (boiled)

Moth Beans (Matki, sprouted and cooked)

मटकी · మత్తి బీన్స్

Small brown moth beans (matki / Turkish gram), usually sprouted then lightly cooked. A drought-hardy legume with a low GI and high fiber, common in Maharashtrian usal and Rajasthani dishes.

MaharashtrianRajasthaniGujarati
GL 7117 kcal1 small bowl (sprouted, cooked)

Horse Gram (Kulthi / Ulavalu, cooked)

कुलथी · ఉలవలు

A hard, reddish-brown legume cooked into curries and rasam. Horse gram has a very low glycemic index and is prized in traditional Indian medicine for weight management and metabolic health.

South IndianAndhraTamil
GL 6132 kcal1 small bowl (cooked)

Whole Green Moong (Sabut Moong, cooked)

साबुत मूंग · పెసలు

Whole green gram cooked with skin intact. One of the lowest-GI and most easily digested legumes in India, used in dals, salads, and khichdi.

North IndianSouth IndianGujarati
GL 6105 kcal1 small bowl (cooked)

Soybean (boiled white soybeans)

सोयाबीन · సోయాబీన్

Boiled white soybeans, one of the highest-protein and lowest-GI legumes available. Rich in complete protein and isoflavones, with very little impact on blood sugar.

North IndianSouth Indian
GL 1173 kcal1 small bowl (boiled)

Dried Green Peas (Vatana, boiled)

सूखे हरे मटर · ఎండు బటాణీలు

Dried whole green peas (vatana), boiled as the base for ghugni and ragda. A low-GI pulse high in fiber and plant protein, popular in Bengali and Maharashtrian street food.

BengaliMaharashtrianNorth Indian
GL 5118 kcal1 small bowl (boiled)