7 protein-packed veggie dishes

From black bean quesadillas to lentil pasta, we’ve got your protein needs covered.

When it comes to maintaining a healthy diet, it’s important to consider your protein intake on a daily basis. That’s because our body isn’t able to store the amino acids we derive from protein – and so our levels need to be replenished every day.

One easy way to measure your protein intake is in serves. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend three serves a day for men aged 19-50, and two-and-a-half for women in the same age range. A serve might be a cup of chickpeas, or two eggs, or 30g of nuts, seeds or peanut butter.

Whatever your personal protein needs, here are seven excellent veggie-filled recipes to help you get the protein ball rolling.

Take some pasta. Then take some lentils. Now, get both swimming in a pan with some boiling water, saffron, chopped kale, tahini and almonds. Simmer it all down, and voilà: a one-pan, protein-packed (thanks to those lentils) power pasta, courtesy of 101 Cookbooks. You can make this dish your own by getting creative with your toppings, too.

Black beans pack a firm, protein-filled punch, and encasing them in tortillas and accompanying them with cheese, pepper, onions and avocado is a one-way ticket to flavour town. Whether you’re a vegetarian or not, this simple recipe from Gimme Delicious refuses to disappoint.

Cheddar. Onion. Tart. Has the English language ever yielded a more delicious trio of words? It’s unlikely. And did you know that 100g of cheddar contains nearly double the protein than 100g of eggs? (Cheddar also contains a heck of a lot more fat, so go easy.) But the eggs and the cheddar – that’s where the protein power in this little tart from Good Food is hiding.

Yet another opportunity to harness the protein-packed power of the unassuming black bean, this tortilla casserole is delicious, wholesome and good for you. It’s also a one-dish wonder, which means it can be prepped, cooked and cleaned up with ease. Head to Genius Kitchen for the full recipe.

Jamie Oliver rarely disappoints, and this super-simple cottage pie sees him in excellent form. Lentils are the star from a protein perspective, backed up by a supporting cast of carrot, leek, celery, sweet potato and parmesan cheese. Get acquainted with the full recipe at Jamie Oliver HQ.

A cake-like slice that tastes sublime and is totally guilt-free? That’s right. You can get these prepped for breakfast, lunch or an energising on-the-go bite – they’re a veritable Swiss Army Snack. The protein (and flavour!) here comes from the coconut and the chopped nuts. Bake them with the help of Food Matters.

So obvious, yet so good. Take your standard pancake recipe, add protein powder, almond meal, coconut milk, whey and chia seeds and bingo – delicious, stackable protein. This recipe from I Quit Sugar makes it very difficult to not eat pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.