Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
A 1 cup cooked serving of pigeon peas contains 11.4 g of protein - a good source of protein, about 23% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup cooked (168 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 11.4 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 6.76 g |
| Calories per serving | 203 kcal |
| Protein density | 22% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 23% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Legumes & beans |
| Food type | Whole food |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #172437 |
A typical 1 cup cooked serving of pigeon peas contains 11.4 grams of protein (6.76 g per 100 g), which makes it a good source of protein. That covers roughly 23% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 22% of the calories in pigeon peas 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.
Among the 54 legumes in the database, pigeon peas ranks 37th by protein per serving, and 297th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against canned pinto beans, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (canned pinto beans has 11.9 g per 1 cup drained and rinsed).
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 above is measured by volume at 168 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #172437 - "Pigeon peas (red gram), mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Pigeon peas has 6.76 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup cooked serving (168 g) provides 11.4 g.
No. Pigeon peas is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1 cup cooked serving of pigeon peas contains 11.4 g of protein, about 23% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Pigeon peas is a good source of protein, and about 22% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against canned pinto beans, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (canned pinto beans has 11.9 g per 1 cup drained and rinsed).
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