Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
5.2 g of protein in 1/4 cup (23 g) of chickpea flour (besan), or 5.8 g for every 100 kcal it supplies.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Protein per 100 kcal | 5.8 g |
|---|---|
| Protein per 100 g | 22.4 g |
| Protein per serving | 5.2 g in 1/4 cup (23 g) |
| Calories from protein | 23% |
| Protein to fat | 3.3 g per 1 g fat |
| Rank in legumes, per 100 kcal | 34th of 54 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 238th of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 10% per serving |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
One 1/4 cup, 5.2 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of chickpea flour (besan) brings 5.8 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 34th of the 54 legumes in this database and 422nd of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 22.4 g per 100 g ranks 7th in its group.
Around 23% of the calories in chickpea flour (besan) come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Weight for weight, chickpea flour (besan) has 3.3 g of protein for each gram of fat (22.4 g against 6.69 g per 100 g).
Set against refried beans, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 1.2 g less protein (refried beans has 6.4 g per 1/2 cup).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving quoted here is measured by volume at 23 g, and it covers about 10% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 22.4 g | 387 kcal |
| 1/4 cup (serving used here) | 23 g | 5.2 g | 89 kcal |
| 1 cup | 92 g | 20.6 g | 356 kcal |
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Related
Highest-protein legumes per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Quick answers
22.4 g. The 1/4 cup serving used on this page weighs 23 g and so carries 5.2 g.
5.8 g. That figure divides its 22.4 g of protein per 100 g by its 387 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
No. On its own, the protein in chickpea flour (besan) is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
About 10%. One 1/4 cup serving has 5.2 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #174288 (Chickpea flour (besan)), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.