Where the calories come from
Every ingredient in your recipe, biggest first. Oil, butter and cheese are often the surprise.
Nutrition values are approximate, based on USDA FoodData Central. Brands, cuts and cooking methods vary, so use labels where you have them.
Recipe calorie questions
How do I calculate calories in a homemade recipe?
Add up the calories of every ingredient at its raw weight, then divide by the number of servings. If your servings aren't equal, weigh the cooked pot and work it out per 100 g.
How many calories are in a plate of homemade chicken curry?
It depends a lot on oil and cut of chicken. A typical home curry with 500 g chicken breast and 2 tablespoons of oil, split into 4, is around 250 to 300 calories per serving before rice or roti.
Should I count the oil I cook with?
Yes. Oil is the biggest hidden source of calories in home cooking. Even if some is left in the pan, count most of it.
Why weigh the cooked pot?
Because servings are rarely equal. Once you know the calories per 100 g cooked, you can weigh any plate and log it exactly.
Do I count water in a recipe?
No. Water has no calories. It changes the cooked weight, which is why weighing the finished pot gives the most accurate per-gram number.