10 Amazing High Protein Vegetarian Recipes That Are Simple To Make

If you, or someone you cook for, is on a vegetarian diet, you probably know by now that you’ll have to source plant-based foods for that person’s protein intake.

Since most meat eaters get their protein from meat, vegetarians have to find alternatives.

Protein is a key macronutrient which is important not only for muscle repair but also for other  bodily functions besides. 

But this protein you need as a vegetarian does not have to be imitation meat, or even resemble meat in any way. You can get plenty of protein from the likes of nuts, beans, lentils, and more.

I have a vegetarian to cook for, so I’ve made it my business to find some really good high protein vegetarian recipes (see also “15 High Quality Low Calorie Vegetarian Recipes“) that are simple to make, and taste great.

There are quite a lot of them on the internet, thankfully. And now, I’d like to share my top 10 with you!

Get those taste buds ready, because here we go!

1. High Protein Couscous Recipe From Cheap Lazy Vegan

I thought to kick things off, we’d start with something nice and simple, and super quick and easy to make.

If you’ve never made couscous before, then you may be surprised by just how quick and easy it is. 

All you have to do is pour some boiled water over the couscous, leave it for a few minutes, and when ready, you fluff it up, and it should double in size.

Although couscous itself is not particularly high in protein, this recipe features plenty of high protein foods, namely chickpeas, beans, and pumpkin seeds.

You will also need your preferred vegetables, such as broccoli or diced red pepper, alongside some garlic powder and Italian seasoning.

There’s also a sauce you can choose to make for it, made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and maple syrup.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

2. Light Paneer Curry Recipe From Olive

If you like to dabble with different spices, but you don’t want too much heat in your meal, then this could be the recipe for you.

It’s loaded with healthy veg, including juicy plum tomatoes, and a generous portion of high protein frozen green peas.

Other healthy ingredients include onion, garlic, and spinach. It also features fresh ginger (see also “How To Make Ginger And Turmeric Kombucha“), freshly squeezed lemon juice, oil paneer cheese, and a nice array of spices, including ground cumin, turmeric, coriander, and mild chili powder. 

When you serve it with basmati rice as the recipe recommends, then each of the 3 servings produced comes in at just 499 calories.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

3. Whole30 Vegetarian Power Bowl Recipe From Well Plated

For those of you who don’t already know, Whole 30 is a diet that has seen a lot of attention and popularity in recent years.

It involves avoiding certain food groups for a 30-day period. Foods to avoid on this diet are sugar, alcohol (see also “How To Make Healthy Alcohol Free Harry Potter Butter Beer“), grains, heavily processed foods and dairy products.

This recipe is suitable even for those following such a diet. It is a power bowl, which is not only high in protein (thanks to the eggs) but also rich in fiber and very nutritious.

The ingredients include red onion, sweet potatoes, broccoli, kale, and seasonings. There’s also a recipe for a nice dressing, based on tahini, cumin, garlic, and lemon juice. 

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

4. Chickpea Quinoa Soup Recipe From Eat This, Not That

This soup dish is absolutely scrumptious! It has bold, contrasting flavors, and it’s super healthy to boot.

It features the likes of tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, paired with sour cream and shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese for a delicious contrast of flavors.

The high protein comes from the can of chickpeas and quinoa, bringing the protein supply up to 8 grams per serving.

And there’s also plenty of healthy veg, including carrots, yellow bell pepper, diced onion, diced tomatoes, and zucchini slices.

There are several spices and seasonings in there too, specifically chili powder, oregano, ground cumin, and minced garlic cloves. 

The recipe yields 6 servings, and it takes 40 minutes to cook.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

5. Vegetarian Bolognese Recipe From BBC Good Food

Everyone loves a good bolognese – such a great crowd pleaser. Usually, even picky eaters enjoy it.

It’s made with vegetarian “ground beef” instead of real meat, and some would argue that this vegetarian mince tastes better than regular ground beef. And this ingredient is easier to get hold of than you might think.

It’s also got classic bolognese ingredients such as sieved tomatoes, chopped onion, and garlic. And there are additional healthy veggies thrown in there too, namely carrots and celery.

You can stick with serving it with spaghetti, but really any pasta shape will suffice. And as a finishing touch, you can also include basil leaves, bay leaves, and vegetarian hard cheese.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

6. Classic Lentil Burgers Recipe From Making Thyme For Health

You may already know that there are plenty of vegetarian patties out there that you can use to make a nice burger. And it’s super fun to make the patties yourself.

Vegetarian burgers can be made from a wide range of ingredients. But the one in this recipe was chosen for this shortlist because it packs a whopping 12 grams of protein in each serving.

The ingredients of these burger patties include the likes of carrots, onion, walnuts, sunflower seeds, breadcrumbs, tomato paste, vegan Worcestershire sauce, garlic, dried thyme, and oregano.

This dish also provides plenty of iron, and there are ways to make the patties vegan, gluten-free, and nut or seed-free.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

7. One Pot Vegan Jambalaya Recipe From My Darling Vegan

For those of you who don’t already know, Jambalaya is an American Creole and Cajun rice inspired by French, African, and Spanish cuisine. It’s a savory dish that’s usually made with meat and/or seafood, rice, and seasonings.

This is a vegetarian version, however, and in place of the meat and seafood, there’s vegan sausage cut into half inch rounds and soy curls.

It also features plenty of healthy veg, including yellow and green onions, red and green bell peppers, and crushed tomatoes.

There’s also plenty of seasoning, including the likes of garlic cloves, Cajun seasoning, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, and vegan Worcestershire sauce.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

8. Baked Eggs With Spinach & Tomato Recipe From BBC Good Food

This dish has so much going for it! First off, you only need 4 ingredients in total, and you can make the whole thing in as little as 15 minutes.

And if all that’s not enough, it’s super low in calories, coming in at just 114 calories per serving (see also “Chocolate Covered Strawberry Popsicles That Are Low Calorie” for matching dessert ideas).

So you can make it on a busy weeknight, and you can enjoy it on a calorie controlled diet as well.

The ingredients provide an excellent contrasting combination of flavors. They are canned chopped tomatoes, healthy spinach, eggs, and a little sprinkle of chili flakes.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

9. Vegetarian Three-Bean Chili Recipe From Epicurious

Bow, this dish is packed with not only plenty of flavor, but also plenty of protein too, thanks to ingredients such as black beans, pinto beans, and red kidney beans.

And bringing in all the flavor, you‘ve got chunky corn and tomato salsa, tomato purée, and seasonings such as ground cumin, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and slices of corn tortillas and sliced pickled jalapeños for serving.

It can be made ready to eat in as little as half an hour, which makes it perfect for a busy weeknight. And the recipe yields 4 servings, even for the whole family.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

10. Pan-Fried Sesame Garlic Tofu Recipe From Table For Two

Tofu is an excellent source of protein. It’s made from soya beans and has a mildly nutty taste. However, when you cook with it, it’s an excellent absorber of flavors and will basically take on the flavors of whatever it’s cooked with.

I love this recipe not just because of how crispy the tofu is but also because of the sauce.

It’s made with soy sauce, honey, sambal oelek, garlic paste, cornstarch for thickening, and rice wine vinegar. It’s absolutely delicious. I also love to throw on a little garnish of sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

To view the recipe in full, simply click on this link.

Wrap Up

I hope that you’ve enjoyed scrolling through my shortlist of the top ten high protein vegetarian foods and that you feel sufficiently inspired to get in that kitchen and whip up some delicious vegetarian dishes that are packed with all the protein you could want.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QMIIrGvXcg&ab_channel=MadeleineOlivia