Have you recently committed to omitting meat from your diet? Whether it’s for activism or health reasons, you’ll be looking elsewhere for up one of the major three nutrients your body needs. To get you started, here’s a list of recipes full of protein for you to try.

Pumpkin seed butter

Make this alternative to peanut butter for an extra boost of protein – and less of a chance of an allergic reaction. Simply blitz 500g of pumpkin seeds in a food processor, scraping down the sides as you go to be sure everything is evenly blended and add a tablespoonful of maple syrup and store in the refrigerator.

Plus, with the pumpkin seeds’ earthy, mellow flavor, you can tweak the recipe to your tastes. Make it sweet with vanilla extract, cinnamon, honey, or maple syrup or add a pinch of salt for a more neutral taste.

Spread it on French toast, English muffins, or use it as a salad dressing for an extra 4g of protein per tablespoonful.

There are many healthy and delicious ways to get sufficient protein in your vegetarian diet including nuts, beans, seeds, protein powders, and quinoa.

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Feta and cucumber bites

Cheese is a great source of protein, with the best option being low-fat cottage cheese with 11.8g in it. Swiftly behind it is grated parmesan, ricotta, Romano, and, lucky for us grilled cheese lovers: cheddar.

Simply make a boat out of the cucumber by cutting it lengthwise and scooping a little out the middle. Fill the middle with feta, garlic, ricotta, and dill that’s been in the food processor, making a thick and creamy mix. Sprinkle with black pepper and dill, then cut into bitesize pieces and enjoy. With 2g of protein, this recipe is great for a mid-afternoon snack.

Protein pancakes

These are not simply pancake mix with a scoop of protein powder, although it can help. No, this recipe uses a banana, 75g of oats, 3 large eggs, 2 tbsp of milk, 1 tbsp of baking powder, a pinch of cinnamon, and 2 tbsp of protein powder whizzed in the blender, then fried with coconut oil and drizzled with peanut butter to serve. Make sure those oats are smooth by blending for over a minute. With the help of the protein powder, the whole recipe comes to 31g of protein. Serve with Greek yogurt or peanut butter for an extra boost. Superior to the canned mix in almost every way.

Baked eggs with spinach and tomato

Eggs are a great source of protein because they can be added to many different meals. Have them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Egg whites in particular are very high in protein bioavailability.

Wilt some spinach by putting it into a colander and pouring over a kettle of boiling water then add to your ovenproof dish. Mix a can of chopped tomatoes with a teaspoon of chili flakes and some seasoning then add to the spinach. Crack an egg in a well in the center and bake at 390 degrees for 12-15 minutes. It all depends on how you like your eggs. Some crusty bread would be good to soak up all those tomatoes. With 9g of protein, it is a quick and fulfilling meal that will leave you wanting more.

Black bean chili

Black beans have a wealth of health benefits, including blood sugar regulation, eye health, and even cancer prevention – although human studies are needed for that one.

Fry your two onions and garlic in a large pot, add 3 tbsp of paprika and 3 tbsp cumin, 3 tbsp of cider vinegar, 2 tbsp of brown sugar, and 2 cans of chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Add the 2 cans of black beans and serve with rice. This health-loaded meal will give you 17g grams of protein in a bowl.

Beetroot and quinoa burgers

One for throwin’ alongside the shrimp on the barbie, these vegan burgers pack a lot of flavor. Quinoa is a complete protein, which means it provides you with all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot make.

To make these succulent burgers, fry finely-chopped red onion, garlic cloves, and a tablespoonful of cumin seeds in rapeseed oil then add to a bowl. Add cooked quinoa and 2 cooked and grated beetroot, 50g of plain flour, 2 tbsp of milled flaxseed, and some coriander, and mix until combined. Leave for 5 minutes to bind before shaping them and cooking them in the oven at 420F for 25 minutes, turning over after 15. With 8g of protein per serving and 6g of fiber to boot, it makes for a very fulfilling meal.

Other plant-based foods to incorporate into your diet for an extra protein kick include chia, hemp, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, walnuts, almonds and more.

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Other things to incorporate into your diet for an extra protein kick would be seeds: chia, hemp, lentils etc. Look out for recipes involving chickpeas, tofu, Greek yogurt, and almonds for more protein in your diet.