The short answer
100 g of sardine (raw) has 17.9 g of protein and 152 kcal.1 That's about 36% of the 50 g of protein ICMR-NIN suggests a day for a 60 kg adult.2
Nutrition in 100 g of sardine
| Per 100 g | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 152 kcal (637 kJ) |
| Protein | 17.9 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g |
| Fibre | 0 g |
| Water | 72.3 g |
These figures are for raw sardine, edible part, without bones or shell. Cooking drives out water, so cooked fish has more protein per 100 g than raw. Weigh it raw for an accurate count.
How much sardine for your protein?
The amounts below are worked out from IFCT's figure of 17.9 g per 100 g. To see how sardine fits into a whole day, add it in the day builder.
| To get | Eat about | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 10 g of protein | 56 g (raw weight) | 85 kcal |
| 20 g of protein | 112 g (raw weight) | 170 kcal |
| 30 g of protein | 168 g (raw weight) | 255 kcal |
How sardine compares
Sardine has more protein per 100 g than 66% of the 542 foods in IFCT 2017. Here it is beside the other fish and seafood we cover:
| Fish and seafood | Protein / 100 g | kcal | From protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuna | 24.5 g | 112 | 89% |
| Seer fish | 22.3 g | 136 | 66% |
| Hilsa | 21.8 g | 259 | 34% |
| Mackerel | 21.5 g | 101 | 86% |
| Salmon | 21 g | 172 | 49% |
| Rohu | 19.7 g | 102 | 78% |
| Prawns | 19.2 g | 91 | 86% |
| Pomfret | 19 g | 123 | 63% |
| Tilapia | 18.5 g | 83 | 90% |
| Catla | 17.9 g | 94 | 77% |
| Sardine | 17.9 g | 152 | 48% |
| Pangas | 17.1 g | 204 | 34% |
| Bombay duck | 13.5 g | 69 | 80% |
Other foods with similar protein: cashews (18.8 g), kala chana (18.8 g), flaxseeds (18.6 g), almonds (18.4 g), chicken thigh (18.2 g). For more protein per 100 g, try soybean (37.8 g), tuna (24.5 g), masoor dal (24.4 g). See every food on one protein chart.
Protein quality
Fish and seafood have complete protein: all the essential amino acids in good proportions.3 Most fish are lean, so they give a lot of protein for few calories.
Sardine in Indian languages
Names as listed in IFCT 2017, which records what the food is called in each region it was sampled from.1
- Gujarati
- Tarali
- Kannada
- Baige, Buthai, Boothai, Tarli-multhi
- Malayalam
- Nalla Mathi, Nallamathi
- Marathi
- Haird, Kanat, Tarali, Tarli, Haid
- Tamil
- Nonalai, Charlay, Paycharlay, Paichalai
- Telugu
- Noona-kavallu
Common questions
How much protein is in 100 g of sardine?
17.9 g, according to the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 from ICMR-NIN. That's for raw sardine, per 100 g of the edible part. 100 g also gives 152 kcal.
How much sardine gives 20 g of protein?
About 112 g (raw weight). That's roughly 40% of the 50 g a day ICMR-NIN suggests for a 60 kg adult.
Is sardine a good source of protein?
48% of its calories come from protein, and it has more protein per 100 g than 66% of the 542 foods in IFCT 2017. Fish and seafood have complete protein: all the essential amino acids in good proportions.
Is this for raw or cooked sardine?
Raw, edible part, without bones. Cooking drives out water, so 100 g cooked has more protein than 100 g raw. If you weigh it cooked, your count will come out low.
References
- Longvah T, Ananthan R, Bhaskarachary K, Venkaiah K. Indian Food Composition Tables 2017. National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad. nin.res.in. Read through the open-data copy by Subhajit Sahu (ifct2017, MIT licence).
- ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition. Nutrient Requirements for Indians: Recommended Dietary Allowances and Estimated Average Requirements. 2020. nin.res.in
- WHO/FAO/UNU Expert Consultation. Protein and amino acid requirements in human nutrition. WHO Technical Report Series 935, 2007. who.int