14 protein-packed vegan recipes (2024)

Features

by Genevieve Halbert

published on 23 December 2019

14 protein-packed vegan recipes (1)

The idea that plant-based diets are automatically lower in certain nutrients is a common one– protein, for many people, is synonymous with meat, fish, and eggs, and if your New Year’s resolutions involve hitting the gym and building some muscle, forgoing animal products might seem like even more of a challenge. The good news is that some of the richest protein sources out there include legumes, grains, nuts, and vegetables, and with the right recipes you won’t miss out on essential nutrients.

Chickpea Tikka Masala

by The Happy Pear

from The Happy Pear: Recipes for Happiness

David and Stephen Flynn (the twin brothers who make upcookery duo The Happy Pear) are committed fitnessfanaticsand they’reevangelical about plant protein. This vegan twist on the classic chicken tikka masala is deliciously creamy and can be ready in just 15 minutes; perfect for a post-gym feast.

From the book

The Happy Pear: Recipes for Happiness

The Happy Pear

Chipotle Mushroom and Black Bean Burgers with Peanut and Lime

by Rukmini Iyer

from The Green Barbecue

Rukmini Iyer’s deeply flavoursome meat-free burgers are full of protein thanks to the black beans and peanut butter used to make up the patties. They also taste sensational, with chipotle mushrooms and tangy lime.

From the book

The Green Barbecue

Butternut, Cashew, and Sage Pasta

by Amelia Freer

This healthiertake on a creamy pasta sauce makes fora tasty and substantial midweek supper. The cashew nuts give the disha rich texture, while also providing a powerful protein hit.

From the book

Simply Good For You

Melissa Hemsley’s Parsnip Dahl Topped with Roasted Parsnips and Pink Pickled Onions

by Melissa Hemsley

from Eat Green

Lentilstake centre stage in this wintery dahl, topped with roasted spiced parsnips and pickled red onions. Melissa recommends making this at the end of the weekend with any leftover root veg that didn’t make it into the Sunday roast. Freeze any leftovers easily for a healthy midweek dinner when you haven’t got time to cook.

From the book

Eat Green

Roasted Squash, Crispy Lentils, Pomegranate and Dukkah

by Rukmini Iyer

from The Roasting Tin Around The World

Lentils are an excellent source of B vitamins, plant-based protein and fibre, and they take centre stage in this traybake dinner. Crisped up in the oven with tender veggies, and topped withcrunchy dukkah, pops of pomegranate and a creamy vegan yoghurt dressing, this is a megamix of texture and flavour.

From the book

The Roasting Tin Around The World

Soba Noodle Salad

by Angela Liddon

from Oh She Glows Every Day

The soba noodles and crispy tofu in this dish are both protein-dense ingredients, making for a light-feeling but substantial salad. It’s also incredibly tasty, with a sweet and tangy tahini dressing, and can be served hot or cold,making it an ideal packed lunch.

From the book

Oh She Glows Every Day

Buy Book

Crispy Tamarind Sprouts with Peanuts and Shallots

by Rukmini Iyer

from The Green Roasting Tin

Nuts, pulses, and leafy green veg are among the top vegan protein sources, and this Indian street food dish fromThe Green Roasting Tincombines all three. The crispy sprouts with roasted chickpeas and salted peanuts make for a flavourful and easy midweek meal.

From the book

The Green Roasting Tin

Spanish Chickpea and Almond Stew

by Melissa Hemsley

from Eat Happy

This substantial and nutritious winter supper from Melissa Hemsley’s Eat Happy isfull of the warming flavours of Spain. It’s made with mostly store-cupboard ingredients, so itcan be whipped up in no time, and it’s guaranteed to bring a little sunshine to a chilly weekday evening.

From the book

Eat Happy

Black Quinoa and Broccolini Salad

by Jules Clancy

from Five Ingredients, Ten Minutes

Quinoa is an exceptionally nutritious grain, containing high levels of vitamins and minerals, as well as doublethe amount of protein contained in rice. In this simple, 5-ingredient recipe, black quinoa is mixed with broccoli and almonds to make a superfood saladthat’s ideal for lunchboxes.

From the book

Five Ingredients, Ten Minutes

Buy Book

Rainbow Lentil Meatballs with Arrabbiata Sauce

by DK Publishing

from There’s a Vegan in the House

A real crowd-pleaser of a dish, this vegan meatball recipeuses lentils as a filling and hearty substitute for meat.Served with egg-free spaghetti and fiery arrabbiata sauce, this isvegan comfort food at its best.

From the book

There’s a Vegan in the House

Vegan West African Peanut Stew

by Rachel Ama

from Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats

Nuts are an incrediblyrich protein source, and the inclusion of peanuts in this West African stewnot only boosts its nutritional value but also creates a deliciously rich and creamy texture. Served with fried plantain, thiswould makean impressive centrepiece to a plant-based dinner party.

From the book

Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats

Buy Book

Meera Sodha’s Peanut Butter and Purple Sprouting Broccoli Pad Thai

by Meera Sodha

from EAST

Another tasty, peanut-packed recipe, this pad thai from Meera Sodha’sEASTprovides extraprotein in the form of pan-seared tofu and purple sprouting broccoli. It’s a quick and easy alternative to takeaway noodles and, unlike your standard takeaway, it will leave you feeling truly nourished.

From the book

EAST

Buy Book

Nadiya Hussain’s Avocado Pasta with Peas and Mint

by Nadiya Hussain

from Nadiya’s Family Favourites

It might come as a surprise to some, but the humble green pea is one of the best plant-based sources of protein. This pasta recipe fromNadiya’s Family Favouritesincorporates plenty of peas, along with a no-cook creamy avocado sauce.

From the book

Nadiya’s Family Favourites

Chia Chai Butternut Breakfast Pudding

by

from The Art of Eating Well

For a supercharged make-ahead breakfast, try Melissa and Jasmine Hemsley’s overnight butternut squash and chia seedpudding. Chia seeds are full of protein, fibre, and omega-3, making this pudding an ideal way to start the day.

From the book

The Art of Eating Well

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14 protein-packed vegan recipes (33)

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14 protein-packed vegan recipes (2024)

FAQs

What vegan food has the highest amount of protein? ›

20 best vegan protein sources chart
FoodServing (g)Protein (g)
1. Tempeh10020.3
2. Seitan10017.9
3. Edamame12017.2
4. Tofu160 (half block)16.3
16 more rows

How to get 30 grams of protein in a vegan meal? ›

Regular consumprion of nuts and seeds, such as almonds, cashews, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc., is a good way to top up your protein intake. 100 grams of nuts seeds contain around 20-30 grams of protein.

How can you get enough protein as a vegan? ›

High-protein vegan foods
  1. Quinoa. ...
  2. Pulses. ...
  3. Tofu. ...
  4. Nuts and seeds. ...
  5. Chia seeds. ...
  6. Buckwheat. ...
  7. Oats. ...
  8. Brown and wild rice.
Apr 5, 2023

How can vegans get 120g of protein a day? ›

One of the easiest plant-based high protein swaps is to replace your usual pasta with red lentil pasta. It's made from protein-rich red lentil flour, and I like to make a vegan bolognese with it. Adding soy mince is a game-changer too when you're struggling to eat enough protein.

How to get 50 grams of protein a day vegan? ›

Smoothies, in general, are a great way to boost protein intake on a plant-based diet, since you can easily add lots of other high-protein ingredients like walnuts, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and almond butter, and even beans (yep, people do it!).

What does 30g of vegan protein look like? ›

Tofu can often be a staple source of protein for those following a vegan or vegetarian diet: 1 1/2 cups of cooked tofu can provide 30 grams of protein along with some healthy fat. Because tofu is made from soybeans, it's considered a complete protein even though it's from plants.

What might the 5 signs of a protein deficiency be? ›

  • Edema (Swelling) One of the main signs of kwashiorkor is swelling on both sides of the body. ...
  • Skin and Hair Changes. ...
  • Getting Sick More Often. ...
  • Muscle Loss and Weakness. ...
  • Decreased Bone Development and Density. ...
  • Stunted Growth. ...
  • Weight Loss or Gain. ...
  • Anemia.
Sep 5, 2023

What fruits are high in protein? ›

5 Higher-Protein Fruits
  • Guava. Protein count: 4.2 grams in 1 cup. ...
  • Jackfruit. Protein count: 2.6 grams in 1 cup. ...
  • Blackberries. Protein count: 2.1 grams in 1 cup. ...
  • Avocado. Protein count: 1.5 grams in half of an avocado. ...
  • Pomegranate Arils. Protein count: 1.5 grams in ½ cup.
Apr 10, 2024

Which vegetables have all 9 essential amino acids? ›

Starchy vegetables like potatoes, taro, and corn provide all 9 essential amino acids. Nevertheless, the concentrations of lysine and sulfur-containing amino acid methionine remains critical. Lysine is necessary for immune, bone, and cardiovascular health.

Can you eat too much vegan protein? ›

Eating too much protein (and any type of nutrient) may do more harm than good to your health. Including a moderate amount of protein every day and enjoying a variety of plant-based foods may be more beneficial in the long run than focusing on short-term gains.

What vegan foods are highest in protein per 100g? ›

Vegan sources of protein
  • Chia seeds are very protein-rich, containing 18.29g per 100g . ...
  • Raw, unsalted almonds are another protein-rich food, containing 20.33g per 100g , and 5.76g per ounce.
  • Hemp seeds are a good source of protein, with 31.56g per 100g .

Is it harder for vegans to get protein? ›

Summary: It is easy for a vegan diet to meet recommendations for protein, as long as calorie intake is adequate. Strict protein combining is not necessary; it is more important to eat a varied diet throughout the day.

What vegan food has more protein than meat? ›

LENTILS.

Much like beans, lentils check some important boxes for herbivores. One cup of cooked lentils has nearly 18g of protein — more than the amount in a hamburger — and also contains a lot of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

How can vegans get 150g protein a day? ›

The reality is that it's fairly simple to get plenty of protein on a vegan diet with all the plant-based protein options out there like tofu, beans, lentils and high-protein whole grains, like quinoa.

How can vegans get 200g of protein a day? ›

Vegan Substitutes to Consume 200g Protein a Day
  1. Tofu.
  2. Quinoa.
  3. Chickpeas.
  4. Lentils.
  5. Tempeh.
  6. Seitan.
  7. Beans such as black beans and kidney beans.
  8. Plant-based protein powders such as pea protein and soy protein powders.
Dec 6, 2023

How to get 40g protein a day vegan? ›

How to get protein without the meat
  1. Pulses. Pulses are an inexpensive protein choice, are high in fibre and a source of iron. ...
  2. Soya beans. ...
  3. Quinoa. ...
  4. Nuts. ...
  5. Seeds. ...
  6. Cereals and grains. ...
  7. Quorn™ ...
  8. Dairy.

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