How Many Calories in Pakora?

Pakora are deep-fried fritters coated in spiced chickpea batter, stuffed with vegetables or other fillings, and a classic snack at mamak stalls and Indian restaurants across Malaysia.

330kcal / 5 pieces (typical mamak/Indian restaurant snack order)

Five pieces of pakora comes in at around 330 calories, with 8g protein, 35g carbs, and 18g fat. That is for a 150g serve, which is the typical snack order you get at a mamak or Indian restaurant. The chickpea batter coating accounts for 140 of those calories, and the absorbed frying oil adds another 135. The actual vegetables inside? Only 55 calories. So yeah, the filling is basically not the problem.

Nutrition facts

Per 5 pieces (typical mamak/Indian restaurant snack order) (150g)	Amount	Per 100g
Calories	330 kcal	220 kcal
Protein	8 g	5 g
Carbs	35 g	23 g
Fat	18 g	12 g

Where the calories come from

Chickpea flour (besan) batter coating50g

140 kcal

Mixed vegetables (onion, potato, cauliflower)85g

55 kcal

Absorbed frying oil15g

135 kcal

The real talk

Pakora are those crispy, golden fritters you see piled up at mamak counters and Indian eateries, basically vegetables dipped in thick spiced chickpea flour batter and dunked in a deep fryer. If you have had onion bhaji before, same idea. The calorie hit is real: 330 calories for 5 pieces, and almost 55% of those calories come from fat. The batter soaks up a serious amount of oil during frying, and that 15g of absorbed oil at 135 calories is doing most of the heavy lifting. To be upfront about it, these numbers are a ballpark estimate because solid nutrition data for Malaysian mamak-style pakora is thin. The exact calories depend a lot on batter thickness, frying time, and oil temperature, so treat this as a reasonable range rather than gospel.

What actually moves the numbers is the filling and how thick the batter is. Potato pakora (aloo) comes in higher at around 370 calories for the same 5 pieces because potato is denser than mixed veg. Paneer pakora jumps to 420 calories because paneer is high in fat. Chicken pakora is 390 calories but gives you more protein, which makes it the more sensible choice if you are going to eat fried things anyway. If you are ordering these at a mamak, portion is the main lever. Five pieces is one reasonable snack. Ten pieces while watching football is a different story, and that is 660 calories of fritters before the teh tarik arrives.

Pakora variants, ranked by calories

Variant	Calories	Notes
Vegetable pakora (mixed veg, 5 pcs)	330 kcal	Standard mixed veg with onion, potato, spinach in chickpea batter
Onion bhaji / onion pakora (5 pcs)	350 kcal	Higher carbs from onion; similar oil absorption
Aloo pakora / potato pakora (5 pcs)	370 kcal	Potato is denser and higher calorie than mixed veg
Paneer pakora (5 pcs)	420 kcal	Paneer adds significant fat and protein; richest variant
Chicken pakora (5 pcs)	390 kcal	Higher protein, similar fat from frying; popular at mamak

How to eat it lighter

Go for chicken pakora instead of paneer pakora. You save about 30 calories per 5 pieces and get more protein out of it.
Ask for fewer pieces and pair with a plain lassi or just water. The snack itself is fine in small quantities; the problem is ordering a second round.
Blot the pakora on a paper towel if you can. Even removing a little surface oil shaves off some calories without touching the taste.
Skip the chutney if it is a creamy or sweet one. Mint chutney is low calorie and actually the better option for dipping.
If you are eating this before a main meal, stop at 3 pieces. It is a snack, not a starter course for more fried things.

Common questions

How many calories in Pakora?

A standard order of 5 pieces of pakora is around 330 calories (150g). The chickpea batter coating contributes 140 calories, absorbed frying oil adds 135, and the vegetables inside are only 55 calories. Variants like paneer pakora can go up to 420 calories for the same serving size.

What exactly is pakora?

Pakora are deep-fried fritters popular at Malaysian mamak stalls and Indian restaurants. Vegetables like onion, potato, or cauliflower are coated in a thick spiced chickpea flour batter and fried until golden and crispy. Variants with paneer or chicken also exist. You might know them by another name if you have had onion bhaji at an Indian restaurant.

Is pakora healthy or should I avoid it?

It is deep fried, so it is not a low-calorie snack. But 330 calories for 5 pieces is not catastrophic if you keep the portion there and do not order two plates. The issue is the oil absorption from frying. Chicken pakora is the better pick if you want more protein for similar calories. Like any fried snack, moderation is the actual answer, not avoidance.

Calorie and macro figures are estimates for a typical hawker or kopitiam serving. Actual numbers vary by stall, recipe and portion size. Use them as a guide, not gospel.

New to all this? Read how I went from 128kg to 86kg without cutting rice →