Meat, poultry and eggs · IFCT 2017
Quail: nutrition per 100 g
Per 100 g, skinless quail meat gives 138 kcal, 20.9 g protein and 6.0 g fat, according to the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017. Its 300 mg of phosphorus is the highest of the 14 meat, poultry and egg foods, and it ranks 2nd in that group for magnesium, riboflavin and vitamin E. Its 4.69 mg of niacin meets 26 per cent of a sedentary man's daily requirement.
About quail
Quail is a small game bird that India now raises on farms, mainly the Japanese quail, which grows fast and lays an egg almost daily. It is known as bater in Hindi and Urdu and kaadai in Tamil, where kaadai fry and kaadai roast are restaurant staples in Chennai and Madurai. In Punjab and old Lucknow, bater was a hunter's dish long before it was a farm bird.
Wild quail are protected, so all the quail sold legally in markets comes from licensed farms, usually dressed and sold whole. A bird is small enough to serve one person, and it cooks in minutes. IFCT 2017 measured the skinless meat, which is lean at 6.0 g fat per 100 g, with 20.9 g protein ranking 29th of 257 foods.
What quail brings to a meal
- 01
Most phosphorus in its group
Quail gives 300 mg of phosphorus per 100 g, the highest of any meat, poultry or egg in IFCT 2017. Phosphorus works with calcium in bones and teeth and helps cells use energy.
- 02
Protein and niacin
At 20.9 g of protein per 100 g, quail ranks 4th of 14 in its group and meets 39 per cent of a man's daily requirement and 46 per cent of a woman's. Its niacin meets 26 per cent of a man's need and 34 per cent of a woman's.
- 03
Riboflavin and vitamin E
Quail ranks 2nd of 14 in its group for riboflavin, at 0.24 mg, and for vitamin E, at 1.59 mg per 100 g. Its riboflavin places it 12th of 241 foods in the tables.
- 04
Magnesium and B6
With 31 mg of magnesium, 2nd in its group, and 0.56 mg of vitamin B6, which meets 23 per cent of a man's requirement, quail is a small but well-rounded meat.
Quail nutrition facts per 100 g
Every value IFCT 2017 reports for the edible portion, with the share of an adult's daily need that 100 g covers where ICMR-NIN sets a requirement.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Adult man | Adult woman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy and macronutrients | |||
| Energy | 138 kcal | 7% | 8% |
| Protein | 20.9 g | 39% | 46% |
| Carbohydrate (available) | 0 g | ||
| Dietary fibre | 0 g | ||
| Total fat | 6 g | ||
| Water | 71.6 g | ||
| Fats | |||
| Saturated fat | 2.02 g | ||
| Monounsaturated fat | 2.79 g | ||
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.81 g | ||
| Omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) | 22 mg | ||
| Cholesterol | 78 mg | ||
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium | 21 mg | 2% | 2% |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 10% | 7% |
| Zinc | 1.13 mg | 7% | 9% |
| Magnesium | 31 mg | 7% | 8% |
| Phosphorus | 300 mg | ||
| Potassium | 333 mg | ||
| Sodium | 56 mg | ||
| Copper | 0.2 mg | ||
| Selenium | 14.3 µg | ||
| Vitamins | |||
| Retinol | 13 µg | ||
| Thiamine (B1) | 0.05 mg | 3% | 3% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.24 mg | 10% | 10% |
| Niacin (B3) | 4.69 mg | 26% | 34% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.56 mg | 23% | 29% |
| Folate (B9) | 9 µg | 3% | 4% |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.59 mg | ||
Values per 100 g of the edible portion. Source: Longvah T, Ananthan R, Bhaskarachary K, Venkaiah K. Indian Food Composition Tables 2017. National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad. Daily-need shares use the ICMR-NIN 2020 recommended dietary allowances for a 65 kg man and a 55 kg woman doing sedentary work (ICMR-NIN brief note). Nutrients IFCT did not analyse for this food are left out rather than shown as zero.
Cite this page
NNWA Nutrition and Wellness Academy. Quail: nutrition per 100 g. Data: Indian Food Composition Tables 2017, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition. https://nnwa.in/foods/meat-poultry-and-eggs/quail/
Where quail sits among Indian foods
Ranked per 100 g against the other 13 meat, poultry and eggs and every food in the tables.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | In meat, poultry and eggs | Among all foods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 20.9 g | 4th of 14 | 29th of 243 |
| Magnesium | 31 mg | 2nd of 14 | 138th of 242 |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.59 mg | 2nd of 14 | 29th of 242 |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.24 mg | 2nd of 14 | 11th of 241 |
How quail is eaten
- Kaadai fry: whole quail marinated in chilli, ginger-garlic and lemon, then shallow-fried crisp, Tamil Nadu style.
- Bater masala: North Indian quail curry in a browned onion and tomato gravy with whole garam masala.
- Quail pepper roast with shallots and curry leaves, cooked quickly so the small bird stays moist.
- Spatchcock the bird and grill it after a curd and spice marinade, as for chicken tikka.
Before you plan around it
Quail is small and lean, so it overcooks fast; a few minutes too long leaves it dry. Restaurant kaadai is usually deep-fried, which adds far more fat than the bird itself carries. Buy only farmed quail from licensed sellers, since wild quail are protected and their hunting is illegal. Iron is modest at 1.9 mg per 100 g, and zinc is low for a meat at 1.13 mg, ranking 13th of 14 in its group.
Food composition is general information, not a diet plan. Anyone managing a medical condition should plan their diet with a doctor or a registered dietitian.
What people ask about quail
Is quail meat healthier than chicken?
Quail is similar to chicken in protein, at 20.9 g per 100 g, and has more phosphorus, magnesium, riboflavin and vitamin E on IFCT 2017 figures. It is pricier and usually deep-fried in restaurants, which cancels its leanness. Cooked simply, both are good choices.
How much protein is in quail meat?
IFCT 2017 lists 20.9 g of protein per 100 g of skinless quail meat, with 138 kcal and 6.0 g fat. That meets about 39 per cent of a sedentary man's daily protein requirement.
Is it legal to eat quail in India?
Farmed Japanese quail, raised and sold by licensed farms, is legal and widely available. Hunting or selling wild quail is not allowed, as wild birds are protected.
Related foods and tables
Egg
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Pigeon
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Guinea fowl
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Chicken (broiler)
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Turkey
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Protein content of Indian foods
Every food in the tables, ranked by protein per 100 g.
Magnesium content of Indian foods
Every food in the tables, ranked by magnesium per 100 g.
Vitamin E content of Indian foods
Every food in the tables, ranked by vitamin e per 100 g.
All meat, poultry and eggs
14 foods in this group, compared.
Learn to use this data
Certification in Nutrition
Reading food composition tables and turning them into meal plans is taught in this NNWA course.