20 High-Protein Vegan Recipes & Tips

It is much easier than you think to get enough protein on a plant-based diet. This guide with 20 High-Protein Vegan Recipes & Tips provides 'how-to' ideas, debunks common myths, and includes easy, low-cost dinners rich in this essential macronutrient.

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Ninety seven percent of Americans get enough protein. Whether you eat meat or not, it is much more likely you are exceeding your daily protein requirement than not meeting it.

Protein is in practically every food. It is almost impossible to design a diet of whole plant foods that is sufficient in calories but deficient in protein.

Jump to:

• 🧱 What is Protein?
• 🍃 Are Plant Proteins Complete?
• 💪🏼 Why Do You Need Protein?
• 🙋🏽‍♀️ How Much Protein Do You Need?
• 🍖 Is It Bad to Eat Too Much Protein?
• 🥩 Is Meat Protein Better Than Plant Protein?
• 📦 The Protein Package
• 🌱 The Best Plant-Based Sources of Protein
• 🎬 The Takeaway
• 👩🏽‍🍳 Made These Recipes?
• 💬 Comments

🧱 What is Protein?

Protein is one of the three major macronutrients, along with carbohydrates and fat. It is in muscle, bone, hair, skin, and almost every other bodily tissue. It is made up of building blocks called amino acids. There are over 20 amino acids, and they fall into two main categories: essential and nonessential.

🍃 Are Plant Proteins Complete?

Complete proteins are foods with all nine essential amino acids. A common myth is that plant proteins do not contain all the essential amino acids. However, this is not the case. All plant-based proteins in the food supply provide all nine essential amino acids.

Although some may contain lower amounts than others, there is no need to combine plant proteins to make sure you get enough of each. This is because the body maintains pools of excess amino acids and does the complementing for you.

The plant foods highest in all nine essential amino acids include tofu, edamame, tempeh, miso, nutritional yeast, and quinoa.

💪🏼 Why Do You Need Protein?

Protein is important for growth, as well as tissue repair and development. It carries oxygen throughout the body, helps make antibodies to fight off infection and disease, keeps cells healthy, and supplies energy.

Without enough protein, the body is not able to rebuild properly, and starts to lose muscle mass.

🙋🏽‍♀️ How Much Protein Do You Need?

The average protein requirement is about 42 grams per day. The National Academy of Medicine recommends adults consume about 0.36 grams per pound, or 0.8 grams per kilogram, of bodyweight per day. This translates to about 7 grams for every 20 pounds of bodyweight.

On average, vegans and vegetarians get 70 percent more protein than they need everyday.

🍖 Is It Bad to Eat Too Much Protein?

While it is important to include protein in your diet, you might not need as much as you think, and there are downsides to consuming too much.

Excessive protein intake is associated with:

• Increased cancer risk
• Bone disorders
• Impaired kidney function
• Liver disorders
• Worsening of coronary heart disease
• Early onset of puberty

Overconsumption of protein during pregnancy may result in:

• More premature births
• Increased risk of death and growth retardation
• Increased likelihood of children becoming overweight in later life

🥩 Is Meat Protein Better Than Plant Protein?

All essential amino acids originate from plants. Therefore, the nutrients present in animal protein come from the plants animals eat.

The fallacy that meat proteins are superior to plant proteins stemmed from the myth that plant proteins are incomplete, meaning they lack some of the essential amino acids. This myth was debunked a long time ago. As referenced in this National Institute of Health study, every plant protein in the food supply contains all nine essential amino acids.

Consuming too much animal protein is associated with several health risks, including increased risk of chronic kidney disease. In addition, high levels of animal protein on a weight loss diet may reduce the metabolic benefits from losing weight.

A diet rich in plant-based protein has not been shown to carry similar risks. In fact, replacing animal protein with plant protein provides many benefits. For example, it improves blood sugar control in diabetes.

📦 The Protein Package

High-protein foods do not just contain protein, but also everything that comes along with it.

Therefore, plant-based proteins are the safest option. The recipes in this guide use the healthiest plant-based protein ingredients.

🌱 The Best Plant-Based Sources of Protein

The average Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein in adults is around 42 grams per day. The following calculations are approximations based on this average.

🐔 Seitan (Wheat Meat)

Seitan is made from gluten, the main protein in wheat. It is low in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Cooked seitan looks and tastes like meat, which is why it is a popular meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians.

A 3.5-ounce serving of seitan contains 25 grams of protein. (~60 percent of the RDA)

🍗 Soy Curls

Soy curls are made from non-GMO, whole soybeans, grown without chemical pesticides. They are high in all nine essential amino acids, as well as fiber and iron. In addition, they are gluten-free.

Soy curls are tasteless on their own, but easily absorb the flavors of sauces and marinades. When cooked, they taste just like chicken.

One serving of soy curls (¾ cup dry) contains 11g of protein. (~26 percent of the RDA)

🍜 Tempeh, Tofu, and Edamame

These three protein-rich foods come from soybeans.

Edamame are immature soybeans. Tofu is made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting bean curds together into solid white blocks. Tempeh is made by fermenting mature soybeans, and then pressing them into a block.

They are high in fiber and heart healthy fats. Plus, they are versatile and easy to prepare.

Tempeh

A 3-ounce serving of tempeh contains 18 grams of protein. (~43 percent of the RDA)

Tofu

Super firm tofu: A 3-ounce serving contains 14 grams of protein. (~33 percent of the RDA)

Firm tofu: A 3-ounce serving contains 8 grams of protein. (~19 percent of the RDA)

Medium firm tofu: A 3-ounce serving contains 6 grams of protein. (~14 percent of the RDA)

Silken tofu: A 3-ounce serving contains 4 grams of protein. (~10 percent of the RDA)

Edamame

One ½-cup serving of shelled edamame contains 8 grams of protein. (~19 percent of the RDA)

🍛 Legumes

Lentils

Lentils of all colors contain roughly the same amount of protein. They are also high in iron, fiber, and several other nutrients.

One ½-cup serving cooked lentils supplies about 12 grams of protein. (~29 percent of the RDA)

Beans & Chickpeas

Most varieties of beans are a good source of protein. Plus, they are high in fiber, iron, and several other nutrients.

One ½-cup serving of cooked beans contains 8 grams of protein. (~19 percent of the RDA)

🍃 Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Sold as a yellow powder or flakes, it has a cheesy flavor, and is a popular ingredient in vegan cooking. Fortified nutritional yeast is an excellent source of vitamin B₁₂ and protein.

One ½-ounce serving of nutritional yeast contains 8 grams of protein. (~19 percent of the RDA)

🥣 Quinoa

Quinoa is technically a seed, even though it is commonly referred to as a grain or pseudo grain. It is gluten-free.

One ¾-cup serving of cooked quinoa contains 9 grams of protein. (~21 percent of the RDA)

🥛 Soy Milk

Soy milk is made from soybeans, which are rich in all nine essential amino acids. In addition, most brands are fortified with vitamin D and B₁₂. Opt for unsweetened soy milk whenever possible.

A serving size of 1 cup of soy milk contains 8 grams of protein. (~19 percent of the RDA)

🍚 Wild Rice

Despite its name, wild rice is an aquatic grass. It contains double the amount of protein as brown rice.

One serving of cooked wild rice (1 cup) contains 6 grams of protein. (~14 percent of the RDA)

🌿 Hemp Hearts

Hemp hearts, or hemp seeds, are technically a nut. They have a mild, nutty flavor and are delicious in salads, sprinkled on avocado toast, mixed into sandwich spreads, and much more.

One 3-tablespoon serving of hemp hearts contains 10 grams of protein. (~24 percent of the RDA) Plus, they are high in iron, heart healthy fats, and several other nutrients.

🌱 Chia Seeds

Chia seeds have a mild, nutty flavor that complements both sweet and savory dishes. Mix them into salad dressings, smoothies, baked goods, or granola. Or use them to make chia jam, or as a vegan egg substitute.

One 2-tablespoon serving of chia seeds contains 6 grams of protein. (~14 percent of the RDA) Plus, they are especially high in fiber, calcium, iron, and heart healthy fats.

🥜 Nuts and Nut Butters

Nuts are a healthful source of protein, fiber, heart healthy fats, iron, and several other nutrients. Blanching and roasting them can lower their nutritional value, so they are best eaten raw. Opt for natural nut butters without added oil, sugar, and salt.

One 2-tablespoon serving of nut butter contains 8 grams of protein. (~19 percent of the RDA)

🥗 Protein-Rich Vegetables and Fruit

Vegetables with the most amount of protein include spinach, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, artichokes, broccoli, asparagus, corn (grain), and white mushrooms.

Fresh fruit generally have a lower protein content than vegetables. Those with the most protein include guava, avocado, jackfruit, apricot, kiwi, grapefruit, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, bananas, grapefruit, and oranges.

🎬 The Takeaway

A well-planned vegan diet provides all the protein your body needs. Consume protein-rich plant foods throughout the day to sustain your energy. Choose a well-balanced diet and include a variety of fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

Use this guide with over 20 High-Protein Vegan Recipes & Tips as a resource.

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