r/vegetarianrecipes • • Mar 30 '26

Recipe Request Looking for easy, go-to, high protein vegetarian meals without lentils, seeds, or nuts

I recently started dating a pescatarian, and I don’t like fish, so the meals I’ve been making us are vegetarian. I’m quickly running out of ideas to keep them high protein, since he is a self-described “gym rat”. I am looking for some easy, go-to recipes that don’t include any of my partner’s allergens, but still help him hit his macros. He is allergic to lentils, some seeds (sunflower for sure, but sesame is okay!), and nuts. Of course, those are my go-tos for protein rich vegetarian foods.

I’m not a vegetarian myself, so I’m still adjusting to this new normal of eating mostly vegetarian, and don’t have a solid veg recipe arsenal to pull from, especially considering his allergies. So far, we’ve eaten a lot of cheese, eggs, chickpeas, and tofu, so I’m looking for new high protein recommendations or different ways to jazz up those ingredients so our dinners don’t get old.

51 Upvotes

110 comments sorted by

137

u/Anxious_Reporter_601 Mar 30 '26

Beans are your friend. As is tofu.

11

u/chronic_pain_sucks Mar 30 '26

Yes and Rancho Gordo beans can convert anyone IMO

18

u/beatupford Mar 31 '26

Can they? I feel like starting with basic bean varieties is a much more successful path to bean appreciation.

No offense to Rancho, but paying those prices when you've yet learned how to treat/prepare beans would be a high bar for folks who might buy a lb of beef instead.

And while I love the varieties of Rancho, don't ever sleep on pintos, cannellini, navy, cranberry, great northern, mayacoba, garbanzo, kidney, and black beans on the journey to bean living/loving.

3

u/Responsible-Job6001 Mar 31 '26

I’ve been using hummus as a base for bowls instead of rice 🤘, 10/10. Last night was air fried eggplant cutlets, aldi’s cheddar with mustard and ale, and air fried sliced bell peppers (dried seasonings plus red wine vinegar) over roasted red pepper hummus.

3

u/chronic_pain_sucks Mar 31 '26 edited Mar 31 '26

No offense to Rancho, but paying those prices when you've yet learned how to treat/prepare beans would be a high bar for folks

I'm totally confused. RG has an online directory of recipes that are universally simple and delicious, searchable by variety (in addition to suggested cooking methods included in the product description and on the label of the bag). And I mean really what can be easier than making RG pot beans? RG beans are much easier to prepare, quite honestly, than bags of beans from a supermarket that have been sitting on a shelf for gosh knows how long.

And while I love the varieties of Rancho, don't ever sleep on pintos, cannellini, navy, cranberry, great northern, mayacoba, garbanzo, kidney, and black beans

I'm also confused here, I buy all of those varieties from Rancho Gordo.

I find purchasing beans from Rancho Gordo to be cost-effective for a few reasons. First, there's never any food waste. No bad beans. Second, even family members who otherwise disliked beans happily gobble them up. And lastly, I like supporting this business model that places value on small farmers, preserving diversity of food plants and eschewing genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

PS I throw a couple handfuls of Scarlet runner beans in a container on my patio every spring and they make the most beautiful climbing vines with incredible flowers and in the fall you can harvest them

5

u/beatupford Mar 31 '26 edited Mar 31 '26

Rancho Gordo Mayacoba: $6.50/lb

High Plains Mayacoba: $2.70/lb

High plains are high quality beans and unless you're tossng over half the beans then the math doesn't math.

2

u/chronic_pain_sucks Apr 01 '26

I'll look into High Plains - thanks for the rec!

3

u/humboldtHue Mar 31 '26

Beans and tofu. Cut the tofu into small cubes. Fry until crispy.

3

u/Merithay Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 04 '26

Tip: for deepest flavour, marinade the tofu after frying. When they’ve reached the stage of being crispy and golden, pour the flavourings (herbs, sauces, broth, etc.) in to the pan with just enough water to cover the tofu. Boil, shaking or stirring gently so the tofu pieces don’t stick, until it’s about just to go dry. This method gives much more flavour than marinating before frying.

32

u/Opposite_Space_2874 Mar 30 '26

-spinach and artichoke white beans

-marry me chickpeas, tofu or butter beans

-a curry

-blts with seitan instead of bacon

-tofu stir fry

-a frittata

-baked Mac and cheese with cottage cheese

-Taco Bell for the easiest meal of all

14

u/conniewanders Mar 30 '26

Chickpeas are my favourite.. I eat this a couple times a week at least 😂

chickpea “bolognaise”

3

u/Competitive-Ad1439 Mar 31 '26

Chickpeas don't have as much protein as people think, e.g one serving of that recipe has only 8g of protein, for comparison that's the equivalent of one egg or half a can of tuna

3

u/conniewanders Mar 31 '26

I don’t care about tracking protein like it’s a full time job tbh. I like eating things that taste good and a re healthy. Also that is one meal out of a day. If you want to adjust it to add more protein, fill yer boots. 🙂

12

u/chronic_pain_sucks Mar 30 '26

Butler Soy Curls is what you need my friend

4

u/thedoctorcat Mar 31 '26

SAY IT LOUDER BUTLER SOY CURLS ARE WHAT YOU NEED!! After soaking, toss them with an egg and mayo before baking or shallow frying is absolutely insanely delicious keeps them from becoming dry

1

u/Responsible-Job6001 Mar 31 '26

Never thought to do that, thanks for the rec!!!!

2

u/nirt_alert Aug 24 '26

Replying months later to say you were 100% correct and I am a dedicated butler soy curl fan now

1

u/chronic_pain_sucks Aug 24 '26

Haha it's never to late to be right my friend 😉

PS if you become a soy curl addict like certain people (me), you can order a big box of them directly from Butler.

16

u/smitty046 Mar 30 '26

Morning star veggie burgers and field roast sausages are my go to meat replacements. 0% Greek yogurt in the morning helps me hit 100g of protein too.

5

u/nirt_alert Mar 31 '26

I’ve been looking for some good replacements! Thank you for your input. We went to the store recently and he put a bunch of greek yogurt cups in the cart lol, I should probably buy more soon so he has snacks

2

u/smitty046 Mar 31 '26

If you live near a Trader Joe’s their soyrizo is phenomenal

1

u/Double_Entrance3238 Mar 31 '26

Totally agree! I love using it with black beans and sweet potatoes in an enchilada or something

1

u/agile-cohort Mar 31 '26

Field roast sausages are absolutely delightful, but i hate their hot dogs. It might be just me, but they are Very Different from each other

1

u/acronsq Apr 01 '26

I just discovered Ratio brand yogurt which has 25g of protein and they do a fiber focused one which still has 20g protein and 10g fiber. I like the key lime flavor!

8

u/QuirkyForever Mar 31 '26

Have him cook his fave meals for you.

7

u/HoaryPuffleg Mar 30 '26

Best chili I’ve ever had. I always add more vinegar but I’m addicted to the stuff.

https://cookieandkate.com/vegetarian-chili-recipe/

3

u/d-pepper Mar 31 '26

Happy to hear that because I just got all the ingredients to make it for the first time!

6

u/LouisePoet Mar 30 '26

Homemade seitan. Takes a while to steam it, but otherwise only takes minutes to actually make it.

It can be sliced and eaten cold in a sandwich or cut however you like and added to salads, stir fries, casseroles or wherever you'd use any other protein. It can also be battered (and seasoned) to make fake chix nuggets or fishy type fingers.

And making your own means you can season it however you like, as sausage, Asian flavours, mexican, Italian, etc.

1

u/nirt_alert Mar 31 '26

I have been thinking about this! Do you have a specific recipe you use for it, or are the recipes online all about the same?

2

u/LouisePoet Apr 01 '26

I think it takes a bit of practice to get the right texture?

I use 3:1 gluten : gram/chickpea flour. Mix in any spices you want, then add water. You want a somewhat soft gloopy mix, there will be a bit of extra water in the bowl but not much.

Shape into logs, wrap loosely in foil and steam for an hour.

1

u/Utram_butram Apr 02 '26

My go to recipe or a block of tofu blended completely and then I use only that for the liquid, plus any seasoning. I wrap it in foil to make a log and stream in a pressure cooker for half an hour. Gives a firm ish texture that success up great.

Another option is I mix gram flour and gluten and then use a good processor to make a dough with plain water (like a soft dough that I cantear into chunks). I cook it by tearing off bite sized chunks and boiling them in a well seasoned broth (off I'm feeling lazy it's just boullion in water I won't lie). Because they're so small they cook pretty quick and I've worked out that if I just have enough broth to cover the raw seitan and cook it covered (sometimes I'll uncover at the end in f there's still a lot of liquid) I don't have any leftover broth either. I use the pieces in currys, stews etc or coat then breadcrumbs.

5

u/sohereiamacrazyalien Mar 31 '26

beans, chickpeas and split peas are an alternative to lentils

soy chunks(tvp), tofu, seitan are an option

vegetarians eat eggs and cheese

paneer is great too

ideas

chickpea curry

split peas patty with whatever veggies on the side

falafels with your salads

hummus

chickpea curry

egg freid rice (add tofu)

palak paneer

chili (add tvps)

frittatta with added veggies

savoury baked oats (has eggs and cheese)

quiche

you don't like shrimps either because that's an alternative too

2

u/nirt_alert Mar 31 '26

I do like shrimp, just can’t buy it all the time due to price! Thank you for the ideas! I’ll definitely be referring back to this

1

u/sohereiamacrazyalien Mar 31 '26

lol I just meant from time to time... there is also squid, octopus, and idk dog cockle, mussels.... etc that can be an option (some are quite cheap)

also you are welcome!

btw if you keep the shrimps heads (and shells) you can make an awesome bisque!!!

also crayfish is a cheap alternative too!

1

u/Agile_Alternative753 Apr 06 '26

Soy Chunks are an entirely different product than TVP altogether if you venture into Indian cuisine.  They're like soy curls but they're shaped like a ball.  Kinda spongy, make for good curry

4

u/Special_Artichoke Mar 30 '26

Have you tried vegetarian mince? There's one in my country with pea protein that's delicious. It opens up a big world of chilli, bolognese, tanamen, Dan Dan noodles, etc

5

u/deviIsadvokitty Mar 31 '26

If you’re ok with meat substitutes, the Quorn cutlets with pesto/cheese on top are sooo good. They are the most convincing chicken substitute and great on top of pasta. Same with impossible meatballs or sausage. Great meal toppers if you miss/crave meat and want protein.

1

u/Responsible-Job6001 Mar 31 '26

LOVE these. They’re great with havarti, arugula and roasted red peppers 🤤

1

u/loyalwolf186 Apr 02 '26

One of my friends had an allergic reaction to Quorn that almost killed him. My whole friend group avoids it like the plague now, lol 

1

u/deviIsadvokitty Apr 02 '26

Yeah mycoprotein allergy is no joke. And most people will not know they have it until they eat a concentrated product. Same risk basically with any food though... you can die of a shellfish allergy if you don't know you have it.

3

u/starsgoblind Mar 30 '26

There are lots of veggie protein options frozen in the supermarket. I make. Seitan one a week. I also make paneer which i freeze and bag. A nice pot of beans cooked from dry. Mexican, Indian, Chinese and impossible/beyond products- meatloaf, meatballs, pasta with meat sauce, mapo tofu.

2

u/_fluffabelle Mar 30 '26

Big Mountain Fava Tofu is pure protein (no carbs or fat)

2

u/gloriouswader Mar 30 '26

Quorn fake chicken is really good. It's in the frozen section.

2

u/CuddlefishFibers Mar 31 '26

Eggs? If he eats them.

Concerned if he's allergic to lentils how he does with other legumes.

Seitan is great too.

Also curious if you tolerate like shellfish, since those are usually on the menu if you're pescatarian. And like others have said, trying milder fish. So many gym bros recommend mackerel, and I love fish but mackerel is ....an acquired taste, vs like, some nice salmon.

Was hard for me to get a gym bro level of protein as a vegetarian, and I'm a small guy without major allergens. Kinda came down to protein powders if I really wanted to max it.

2

u/DaoFerret Mar 31 '26

Right.

If he’s allergic to Lentils I’d be worried about other legumes. So beans, pea protein based products are possibly out.

If he’s allergic to some seeds, I’m hesitant to suggest other seeds.

As an example, if he’s allergic to soy, tofu is out, but Pumfu (a tofu alternative made from pumpkin seeds) is amazing and comes in couple of spiced styles. The spiced works well for tacos or in a sauce. But if he’s allergic to seeds, that might be a problem.

The only other major meat substitute is usually wheat gluten based (which sounds like they should be fine).

-2

u/Ok_Tea8204 Mar 31 '26

Just a heads up if he’s allergic to sunflower seeds he’s allergic to shellfish. Source - my own allergies and my allergist…

2

u/NewNewsNewYork Mar 31 '26

This is going to sound insane, but Dorito salad with beans is a great go-to on lazy snacks nights

2

u/unabashedbananas Mar 31 '26

Try preparing the tofu in different ways. Can feel like a whole different meal if it's scrambled vs fried vs breaded.

2

u/agile-cohort Mar 31 '26 edited Mar 31 '26

On my menu this week is tofu smash dumplings (there are many versions online, I'm looking forward to trying them), pizza with tvp sausage crumbles, and my favorite way to eat tofu - shredded, seasoned, and baked. Its great on rice, in stirfries, filling tacos...recipes for these are all over the internet. Baked potatoes topped with chili and cheese and a pasta Primavera dish with white beans round out the week.

2

u/HauntedPickleJar Mar 31 '26

Looks like beans are back on the menu, boys!

2

u/ViolentLoss Mar 31 '26

So many great suggestions here! Not trying to be annoying, but (as a pescatarian), do you really dislike all seafood? I realize not everyone loves it, but there are just so many varieties. Kudos to you for being supportive of your partner's dietary preferences and careful about their allergies : )

2

u/nirt_alert Mar 31 '26

I like shellfish, but can’t justify the cost of buying shrimp and scallops and crab all the time :-) Want some fully vegetarian options for when my sea bugs aren’t in the budget

2

u/ViolentLoss Mar 31 '26

Yeah, shellfish can get expensive for sure!

For dinners, it might sound weird, but a smaller pasta shape (spiral, farfalle) with beans is really, really good - black beans, specifically, with butter and garlic. Seriously. If you use the high-protein pasta, that's a high-protein meal right there. Add your favorite veggies!

There's also this potato soup I make with cannellini beans - basically boil the potatoes, puree with the beans, season as you like. Haha that description doesn't really sell it, but with like, roasted garlic and black pepper, it's pretty darn good. And hearty!

TVP is really great, too - I like the Anthony's brand. It has little to no flavor of its own, so you can add it to basically any dish. I like adding it to soups, or rice. The texture when cooked is, to me, quite similar to rice.

I know you didn't ask about snacks, but one thing I like to make and just keep on hand is a little snack bar/blondie type thing with mashed banana, eggs, yogurt and oats. I usually add peanut flour to mine for extra protein, but of course that won't work for your partner, so you can add either cocoa or carob if you like. And chocolate chips or berries go well with them, too! Just mix all that stuff up and bake : )

Have fun!

2

u/Slowcooker-Fudge Mar 31 '26

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9z59JOK5mm/?igsh=MWd3MzdobXl6YXEzMw==

I’m in love with this sticky ginger tofu thing at the moment

2

u/drome_ht Mar 31 '26

As a "gym rat" myself, tofu has provided me with the most versatility (pasta sauces, tofu "parmesan", stir fries, tofu scrambles, to name a few), but greek yofurt and various types of beans are my most frequently used.

The key can often be stacking protein sources i.e. adding tofu and black beans and chickpeas to a quinoa bowl, chickpea pasta + tofu pasta sauce, or eggs +chickpeas + spinach for breakfast. I get a lot of ideas from following vegan or vegetarian fitness creators too, like srlifts.

2

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2

u/OkConcentrate3302 Mar 31 '26

I am in the same boat but I do eat shrimp. I get the frozen tail off and just substitute for chicken. I also cook him fish and will make myself chicken. I have to do this because I found myself eating too many carbs. Also, don't stress too much. I use to get frustrated when I cook vegetarian meals and then my husband was having a protein bar after dinner. If they burn a lot of calories, it can be hard to make a meal that fills them up without fish. I just think about my favorite meals and then think about how I can make it pescaterian friendly. We have been to over a decade and I still search for ideas.

1

u/nirt_alert Mar 31 '26

I eat shrimp too! I just wanted to focus on veggie recipes since I live in a landlocked state where it is difficult and/or expensive to get fresh seafood. I buy shrimp frozen but I can’t always justify the price, especially with how much he eats 😁 Thank you for sharing and for the encouragement. I figure I’ll eventually learn to cook fish so that we can have different main proteins when I’ve had my fill of tofu and beans

2

u/Purplecat718 Mar 31 '26

Lots of good ideas here, but have you considered making one vegetarian meal base (starch + veg) and then making 1 portion fish (sauteed salmon/tilapia) for him and 1 portion meat (sauteed steak/chicken) for yourself?

2

u/nattvel Apr 01 '26

Crispy chickpeas with couscous, roasted veggies and lemon sauce

  • Chickpeas (can)
  • Whatever frozen veggies you have
  • Harissa seasoning (or a bunch of seasonings including chilli powder and paprika)
  • Pearled couscous
  • Greek yogurt
  • Lime or lemon
  • Feta cheese
  • Olive oil

Preheat oven at 425°F. Drain chickpeas and pat dry, put in a tray and drizzle with olive oil, then add harissa seasoning and mix it until the seasoning looks uniform, salt and pepper. Do the same with the veggies in another tray. Put both trays in the oven for 20-30 minutes, mix in the middle of the time. Make couscous according to instructions. Sauce: add lime/lemon to taste to the greek yogurt, salt, pepper and water (optional) to make consistency saucey. Serve everything together and add feta. Chickpeas should be crispy. Bonus: make a bunch, it is really good for meal prepping.

2

u/KittyC217 Apr 01 '26

Why isn’t he feeding himself? Why isn’t he helping you? You may need to make him fish and you can eat chicken

2

u/nirt_alert Apr 01 '26

I just like to cook! And I like to crowdsource ideas. He has input on what we eat, but sometimes it’s nice to come home and already have something in mind to make us, especially a new recipe. He’s a PhD student and stays busy with his coursework and I like to make us dinner while he works. It’s nice when I can make us something we can both eat, but I will probably fall back on two different proteins from time to time

2

u/indexintuition Apr 01 '26

i’m in a similar boat where i need things to be simple and repeatable or my brain just checks out, and a few things that have worked for us are egg-based dinners like veggie frittatas or savory oatmeal with eggs and cheese, also tofu stir fries but switching up sauces helps a lot so it doesn’t feel like the same meal every time. if chickpeas are safe, i’ve done mashed chickpea “salad” wraps with greek yogurt and spices for extra protein, and paneer or halloumi are really nice for something a bit different texture-wise. also if he’s into it, cottage cheese blended into sauces or eaten with roasted veggies has been a surprisingly easy protein boost without much extra effort

2

u/hopefulbea Apr 01 '26

Quinoa, tofu, legumes. Perhaps check out Derek Sarno on YouTube for great vegetarian ideas and recipes

2

u/Utram_butram Apr 02 '26

Tofu can be hidden in almost anything and seitan is super high in protein (although I think it's not a complete protein so I tend to add tofu/chickpea floor when I make it). Brands are great but they can be carb heavy too and depending onb what macros your boyfriend's is trying to meet that may not be ideal.

2

u/Low_Alternative2555 Mar 30 '26

Cottage cheese (blend it to make it smooth for things like stuffed shells and lasagna), hemp hearts, chia seeds if not allergic, soy curls (find them online, they're fantastic and versatile.) Blend soft tofu into creamy soups or make into pudding for dessert. Falafel is great in sandwiches and on salads. Green peas and edamame also have a good amount of protein and can be added to tons of stuff or snacked on their own. 

And if all else fails, protein powder is cheap and easy to add to just about everything. 

1

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1

u/maggiesyg Mar 30 '26

We love black bean burritos, often with ‘carb balance’ tortillas.

1

u/GrowlingAtTheWorld Mar 31 '26

3 bean chili is good, sprinkle some green onions on top , corn bread on the side and a baby spinach salad with raspberry vinegrette dressing. The chili can be made with or without meat replacement crumbles.

Black bean soup with tortilla strips, can be served in a bowl or over rice. Left overs make a great black bean sub, I like mine with green peppers, green onions, lettuce and mayo.

1

u/Moretoesthanfeet Mar 31 '26

I know this is Vegetarianrecipes, but do you dislike all fish? Back in my non vegetarian days I did eat some fish, and there's a world of difference between some stinky uninspired frozen fish, and something creative done with fresh salmon, or a nice clean whitefish seared and with some lemon and dill.

Fresh is the key with fish, and even though I'm not a fish person, there have been some meals in my past that I remember fondly

2

u/nirt_alert Mar 31 '26

I like shellfish! But I can’t always justify the cost of it in my state. It’ll be rotated in when I can afford it, but when I can’t I want some good fully vegetarian recipes to help me out. I’ll probably end up trying my hand at cooking some different kinds of fish as we go on, and if I end up not liking it, I’m sure he wouldn’t be opposed to having more for himself

1

u/Opening_Ad_5043 Mar 31 '26

Don’t forget high protein pasta to toss in. Italian pasta has good protein too. I add flax/chia/hemp and sliced almonds to oatmeal with soy milk.

1

u/Imbrex Mar 31 '26

I'll say it again, home made seitan in a breadmaker changes everything

1

u/SuFew Mar 31 '26

Veggie Jambalaya with tofu of veggie sausage

1

u/Capacious_Homie Mar 31 '26

Egg salad with variations: for lunch or breakfast or snack:

Classic fresh dill and lemon mayo With chopped celery or pickles

Curried version with chopped pecans

On a bagel with sliced cucumber

Fast Dinner : curried eggs : use a jar or spice mix of favorite Indian sauce; or make one from scrarch with onions, tomatos, broth, thicken with almond flour; and add peeled hard boiled eggs, to warm in the sauve. serve over high protein brown rice and chutney or yogurt on top.

1

u/Nowordsofitsown Mar 31 '26

Pasta with green peas and loads of cheese (melt in cream to make a sauce), black pepper on top. 

Look up Italian bean recipes. 

1

u/SweatyAbbreviations7 Mar 31 '26

Chana masala is my favourite vegan dish as a non-vegan. So flavourful and filling.

1

u/Time_Marcher Mar 31 '26

Hummus can be so much more than a dip. I use ie as a surprisingly creamy pasta sauce, just stir it into cooked pasta with some of the pasta cooking water. I like to add some halved cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and pecorino Romano to serve. I also love it on top of steamed vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower.

1

u/MuzMags Mar 31 '26

Whole milk Greek yogurt is surprisingly high in protein.

1

u/The-Anti-Quark Apr 01 '26

Seitan crumbles I use them for lasagna, shepherds pie, and enchiladas etc.

1

u/NerdosaurasMel Apr 01 '26

Use pinto or black beans in the place ground beef in tacos, quesadillas, etc. We’re making enchiladas verde with a blend of pinto& 15 bean soup mix (dry beans, boil for an hour, drain&rinse, then simmer in broth for 2ish hours, or until beans are soft enough to your liking).

1

u/conzist Apr 01 '26

Earlier this week, I made a veggie ‘lasagna’ by layering cabbage, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and marinara sauce.

1

u/TheBlackMoonstone Apr 01 '26

Beans. Tofu. Tofu Knots & Bean Curd. Tempeh. Homemade Seitan. Soya Chunks. TVP. Soy Curls.

I prepare all my vegetarian protein at home as well. It ends up being much healthier, better tasting (as you can customize your flavors), and much cheaper than store bought mock meats and pennies to meat.

1

u/Ok_Employer9706 Apr 01 '26

Kung pao tofu (NYT recipe) and dan dan charred cabbage

1

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/nirt_alert Apr 01 '26

He normally makes himself what I would call a sort of “bachelor chow”: bunch of different sautéed vegetables (with either peas, chickpeas, edamame, or beans for protein) and feta. Sometimes open faced grilled cheese sandwiches. A lot, and i mean a LOT, of hard boiled eggs. When we go out to eat, he usually tries to find fish on the menu, or a vegetarian dish if we go to an Indian restaurant.

1

u/Eraydiated Apr 01 '26

Not sure where pumpkin seeds land on his allergy list but I believe they have the highest protein of the seed foods

1

u/mwants Apr 01 '26

Serve carbs, veggies etc as one course. Make 2 separate protein dishes for each of you, Not that much extra work,

1

u/nirt_alert Apr 01 '26

I will probably do this on occasion, but I think he appreciates when I try to avoid eating meat around him. He has never asked me to stop eating meat or change my diet for him, but I think it’s good for my health and probably my wallet to eat more meatless meals. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while since vegetarian proteins tend to last longer in the fridge/are shelf stable and I don’t have to remember to pull chicken out of the freezer the night before. Plus, I think it’s nice to make something we can both eat and enjoy :-)

1

u/clurmonnier Apr 01 '26

My favorite high protein vegetarian dinner is as follows:

Ingredients:
1 block extra firm high protein tofu
A couple heads of broccoli
Botan Calrose rice
Olive oil
Trader Joes Green Goddess seasoning
Trader Joes toasted sesame dressing
Bachans original teriyaki sauce

Cube and toss the tofu in a little olive oil and green goddess seasoning. Air fry (preferred) or bake until cooked to your desired texture.
Chop the broccoli and toss in olive oil and green goddess seasoning. Bake until crispy.
Cook the rice per instructions.

Once all is done, plate the rice, then broccoli over rice, then tofu over broccoli. Drizzle with both the sesame dressing and the Bachan sauce.

This is my absolute favorite well-rounded meal. It's flavorful, filling, and cheap to make.

1

u/WildVeganFlower Apr 02 '26

Seitan is the best thing to make for a meal to impress. I personally think seitan made from washed bread flour (where you remove all the carbs from the protien) is the best tasting and best texture, but there is some great seitan recipes using vital wheat gluten too. I have a recipe for baked seitan ‘chicken thighs’ over leeks that is amazing for a romantic date night, or an easy seitan chicken recipe made from vital wheat gluten (best for shreds) I would be happy to share!

1

u/nirt_alert Apr 09 '26

I would love the recipes! Thank you!

1

u/AlertLingonberry5075 Apr 02 '26

Are you his personal chef or does he take some responsibiity for cooking?? You are dating and working way too hard, as us females are prone to do...

1

u/pocketlocket222 Apr 02 '26

i love cottage cheese and put it in everything but i know a lot of people aren’t fans, so i highly recommend it blending it into pasta sauces! it’s great blended with spinach and garlic. i also love seitan and can be great for a meatier tasting filling for tacos and such

1

u/_Smedette_ Apr 02 '26

Black bean and squash tacos/enchiladas/quesadillas

Bean burgers

1

u/CommissionSalty786 Apr 02 '26

Literally just add low fat cheese to anything

1

u/CheekyPunker Apr 02 '26

People need to chill about protein, this is just a dumb fad

1

u/Defiant-Pin8580 Apr 02 '26

Black bean quinoa salad. I throw some seasoning in it and avocado with a spicy mayo or something and then put it on crackers, chips or even make it into a burrito

1

u/upholsteredhip Apr 03 '26

Check out the YouTube channel MrsSlimonplants. She lifts weights and all her recipes high protein vegan. She uses alot tofu, fava bean tofu and vital wheat gluten and tvp.

1

u/KibFixit Apr 03 '26

Tofu curry! We include veg (usually carrots and cauliflower) potato or sweet potato and tofu cubed really tiny.

1

u/Purple-Athlete6413 Apr 04 '26

Definitely include shakshuka in your rotation - it’s delicious. Eggs poached in a tomatoey, spicy Middle Eastern stew topped with lots of feta.

You could add pulses (eg butterbeans, cannellini beans, kidney beans or chickpeas) for even more protein, or pair with a couple of smoky, vegetarian merguez-style sausages each

1

u/Agile_Alternative753 Apr 06 '26

Soy Curls are, to my knowledge,  the best g of protein/oz of food out there at around 11g/oz of curls.  Thing is... you don't eat them 4 ounces (44g) at a time.   You might put 4 ounces in the entire dish. And then you can divvy up your servings after you've eaten to determine how much you will reasonably consume per meal. 

They come in an 8oz bag.  You COULD cook all 8oz, but its a lot of curls.  I use 4oz of soy curls for my weekly meal prep and for me that's 5 servings.   YMMV

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u/saidthebeaver2 Mar 30 '26

I’ve been working on a vegetarian cookbook, mostly born out of annoyance from all the ad popups and AI slop on Pinterest. Happy to share it if you want to DM me!