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Onion pakora

Onion pakora has 296.6 calories per serving (1 Small Cup). It provides 8.3g protein, 22.4g carbs, and 19.3g fat. With a low glycemic index (GI: 52), this recipe is suitable for diabetes management, heart health, PCOS. The 5.4g of dietary fiber per serving adds to its nutritional value. It contains anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric and ginger.

Track the exact calories and macros of Onion pakora in the Hint app — India's comprehensive recipe and nutrition tracking platform.

Onion pakora
  • Serving Size 1 Small Cup (100 g)
  • Calories296.6 kcal
  • Carbs22.4 g (89.7 kcal)
  • Protein8.3 g (33.3 kcal)
  • Fats19.3 g (173.6 kcal)

Nutrition Label

Onion pakora

  • Serving Size1 Small Cup (100 g)
  • Calories296.6 kcal
  • Carbs22.4 g
  • Fiber5.4 g
  • Sugar5.1 g
  • Protein8.3 g
  • Fat19.3 g
  • Saturated fat3.6 g
  • Mono unsaturated fat7.2 g
  • Poly unsaturated fat6.9 g
  • Cholesterol0.0 mg
  • Sodium188.6 mg

Nutrition per 100g

  • Calories296.6 kcal
  • Carbs22.4 g
  • Fiber5.4 g
  • Sugar5.1 g
  • Protein8.3 g
  • Fat19.3 g
  • Cholesterol0.0 mg
  • Sodium188.6 mg

1 serving = 100g

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 6 persons

Ingredients

Chillies green - all varieties
10 Grams
Coriander leaves
15 Grams
Curry leaves
10 Grams
Onion big
150 Grams
Coriander seeds
1 Tea Spoon
Turmeric powder
0.25 Tea Spoon
Rice bran oil
100 Milliliter
Salt
0.5 Tea Spoon
Water
100 Milliliter
Garam masala powder
0.5 Tea Spoon
Red chilli powder
0.5 Tea Spoon
Besan
200 Grams
Ajwain (carom seeds)
0.25 Tea Spoon

Instructions

1
Making the batter
Rinse, peel and then finely chop the onion. Take it in a mixing bowl. Add the chopped green chilies, curry leaves, coriander seeds, and ginger. Add all the ground spice powders including salt. Mix everything very well. Now add cup besan (gram flour). Combine and mix thoroughly. Set aside this mixture for 5 minutes. Add water in small portions to make a thick flowing batter.
2
Deep frying
Heat oil for deep frying in a kadai or frying pan. When the oil becomes hot, then drop spoonfuls of the batter in the oil. Fry the pakora on medium to medium-high heat. Use any neutral-flavored oil with a high smoking point to deep-fry. When one side of the pakora firms up, looks cooked, and is light golden, turn over gently and fry the other side.
3
Serve it
Turn over a couple of times and fry the pakora until they are crisp and golden. Once done, then remove them with a slotted spoon draining as much oil as possible in the pan. Place on kitchen paper towels to remove extra oil. Fry the pakoras in batches this way. Serve pakora with any chutney or sauce of your choice.

Glycemic Index

52 Low
Low
Medium
High

Likely to produce a slower, steadier rise in blood glucose for most people.

How to flatten the spike

  • Pair this dish with a protein source (dal, paneer, eggs, fish, or curd).
  • Add a fiber-rich side salad or non-starchy vegetables.
  • Avoid combining this with another high-carb side in the same meal.

Compare & Substitute

NutrientOnion pakoraCheera PakkoraKeerai PakoraPalak pakora
Calories296.6 kcal290.6 kcal290.6 kcal290.6 kcal
Carbs22.4 g20.6 g20.6 g20.6 g
Protein8.3 g8.5 g8.5 g8.5 g
Fat19.3 g19.4 g19.4 g19.4 g
Fiber5.4 g5.4 g5.4 g5.4 g
Sugar5.1 g3.7 g3.7 g3.7 g
Sodium188.6 mg197.8 mg197.8 mg197.8 mg
Cholesterol0 mg0 mg0 mg0 mg

Health Goals Suitability

Weight Loss

At 296.6 kcal per serving, this can fit into a weight loss diet with mindful portion control. Consider reducing oil or ghee to cut kcal without losing flavor. Pair with a fiber-rich salad to improve satiety.

Diabetes

With a low glycemic index of 52, this recipe supports stable blood sugar levels. The 5.4g fiber further slows glucose absorption. The protein content (8.3g) helps prevent blood sugar spikes.

Muscle Gain

Contains 8.3g protein per serving — a moderate amount. Pair with paneer or curd or eggs or chicken to boost protein intake for muscle gain.

Heart Health

Zero cholesterol and low saturated fat (3.6g) make this heart-friendly. Anti-inflammatory ingredients benefit overall heart health. Low sodium content is ideal for blood pressure management.

PCOS

Low GI (52) with 5.4g fiber supports insulin sensitivity — key for PCOS management. Anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric and ginger are especially beneficial for PCOS.

Thyroid

No goitrogenic ingredients — generally safe for thyroid conditions. Adequate protein (8.3g) supports healthy thyroid function. The spices aid digestion, which can be sluggish in hypothyroidism.

Portion Guidance

Weight Loss

1 Small Cup (~100g) or slightly less. Pair with a high-fiber side like cucumber raita or salad to feel full on fewer kcal.

Muscle Gain

1 Small Cup (~100g) plus a protein-rich addition (100g paneer, 2 eggs, or 1 cup dal) to hit 25-30g protein per meal.

Diabetes

1 Small Cup (~100g). Pair with whole wheat roti (not rice) to lower glycemic load. Eat protein and fiber portions first, carbs last.

General

1 Small Cup (~100g) provides a balanced portion. Adjust based on your daily kcal target — track accurately in the Hint app.

Recipe Modifications

Lower fat

Reduce oil to 1 teaspoon and use an air fryer or non-stick pan. Steaming vegetables before adding retains flavor with less fat.

Boost protein

Add 50g paneer, a boiled egg, or a side of sprouted moong dal. Stirring in 1 tbsp of peanut butter also adds 4g protein.

Lower glycemic load

Replace refined flour (maida) with whole wheat atta, or swap white rice with brown rice or millets like jowar/bajra.

Reduce calories

Reduce serving size by 25% to save ~74.1 kcal. Add extra vegetables (capsicum, spinach, mushrooms) to increase volume without adding many kcal.

Make diabetes-friendly

Replace potato with cauliflower or bottle gourd. Add a squeeze of lemon — the acidity lowers glycemic response.

Meal prep friendly

Onion pakora stores well for 2-3 days refrigerated. Reheat on stovetop for best texture. Prepare ingredients in advance for quick weeknight cooking.

Common Mistakes

Using too much oil or ghee

Why it matters: Excess oil can double the calorie content without adding nutritional value.

Fix: Measure oil with a tablespoon instead of pouring freely. 1 tbsp = 120 kcal.

Not measuring serving size

Why it matters: The nutrition values are for 1 standard serving. Eating 2-3x the serving means 2-3x the kcal (593.2-889.8 kcal).

Fix: Use the Hint app to scan and log the exact portion you eat for accurate tracking.

Pairing with another high-GI food

Why it matters: Eating rice with another starchy dish doubles the glycemic load, causing sharp blood sugar spikes.

Fix: Choose one carb source per meal. Pair with roti instead of rice, or add a protein-rich side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scientific References

  1. Low glycemic index foods help improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes

    Brand-Miller J et al. (2003). Low-glycemic index diets in the management of diabetes. Diabetes Care.

    DOI: 10.2337/diacare.26.8.2261
  2. Increased dietary fiber intake is associated with lower body weight

    Slavin JL (2005). Dietary fiber and body weight. Nutrition.

    DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2003.09.004
  3. Dietary fiber slows glucose absorption and reduces post-meal blood sugar spikes

    Weickert MO & Pfeiffer AFH (2008). Metabolic effects of dietary fiber consumption. Journal of Nutrition.

    DOI: 10.1093/jn/138.3.439
  4. Curcumin in turmeric has significant anti-inflammatory properties

    Hewlings SJ & Kalman DS (2017). Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health. Foods.

    DOI: 10.3390/foods6100092

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