Protein is a popular topic in the plant-based world. To celebrate National Bean Day, we put together 15 high-protein bean dishes for you to try! We even snuck a healthy and delicious dessert in there! Beans are great because their flavor is easily masked by the other ingredients. They also store nicely (either dry or canned) to be used all year long! We have spicy, sweet, savory, meaty, and even salty bean dishes to fit anyone’s taste buds!
Hope you enjoy some of our favorite, high-protein bean dishes from the Food Monster App!
1. Hearty High-Protein Lentil, Kidney Bean, and Chickpea Chili
Loaded with lentils, kidney beans, and chickpeas, this chili is low in fat while being very high in pure plant-based protein! This Hearty High-Protein Lentil, Kidney Bean, and Chickpea Chili will help to keep you fuller longer and less inclined to grab at that bag of potato chips later on in the evening.
2. Black-Eyed Pea and Leek Sausages
Infused with an abundance of spices and aromatic leeks, these Black-Eyed Pea and Leek Sausages are best served with a plate of vegetables and a side of sauerkraut or with pasta. They’re a cinch to make, too! Wheat protein flour gives them a delightfully meaty texture that’s reminiscent of classic sausages.
3. Ayurvedic Spinach-Mung Detox Soup
We all know how stress can take the life out of us! This is the time to slow down, take time to rest, enjoy nature, and savor warm, soothing soups… like this Ayurvedic Spinach-Mung Detox Soup! The combination of mung beans and spinach makes this dish not only protein-rich but also a nutritiously dense, balanced meal. When we eat according to our body constitution and in tune with the changing seasons, the natural outcome is detoxification and feeling healthier.
4. White Bean and Pumpkin Veggie Burgers
Nothing beats a good ol’ veggie burger, especially when it can be made easily at home and is loaded up with nothing but the BEST ingredients. Not only that, but these White Bean and Pumpkin Veggie Burgers are perfect for autumn, filling, healthy, and just plain adorable. The burgers are also healthy, easy to make, jam-packed with flavor, and will satisfy anyone’s taste buds, vegan or not.
5. Colombian Black Bean Stew
Not only is this Colombian Black Bean Stew super easy to make and utterly delicious, but it’s also extremely healthy, full of plant-based protein and fiber. It’s proof that healthy plant-based food does not need to be complicated or expensive. It uses inexpensive foods like black beans, onion, and garlic to make a hearty meal, especially when served with a side of grains and topped with sliced avocado.
6. White Bean Croutons
Whether you want to eat more beans or if you’re looking for gluten-free or healthier ”croutons ” then this White Bean Croutons recipe is for you! Some beans are delicious if they are a bit smaller and a bit more crispy (not undercooked!), but the larger beans such as giant white beans are really delicious if you overcook them so they fall apart. It’s such comfort food and also so satiating because of the fibers. Delicious!
7. Veggie Protein Burritos
These protein-packed Veggie Protein Burritos are the perfect make-and-freeze meal for quick, convenient lunches and dinners. They’re stuffed with quinoa and black beans, plus you can boost the protein content by throwing in tofu or meatless crumbles, so you can customize them to your favorite plant-based proteins.
8. Celery, Mushroom, and White Bean Stew
If you’re craving a good, hearty stew, you can’t go wrong with this one! White beans, celery, and savory mushrooms are simmered in a tomato-based broth. This Celery, Mushroom, and White Bean Stew tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had more time to marry.
9. Sweet Potato Black Bean Breakfast Hash
This hearty Sweet Potato Black Bean Breakfast Hash packs your meal with flavor and a load of simple, whole food ingredients. Tender sweet potatoes and black beans are cooked with aromatic garlic and onion and seasoned with smoky paprika and cumin. Serve with avocado or a side of toast!
10. Pressure Cooker Hoppin’ John
A Southern classic, made vegan! This easy, meat-free Pressure Cooker Hoppin’ John is the perfect dish to throw together whether you’re pressed for time or seeking a filling, budget-friendly meal. Black-eyed peas, wild rice, and tomatoes are stewed together in a pressure cooker for fast cooking. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, fear not! You can make this recipe on the stovetop as well.
11. Black Bean S’mores Brownies
Utilizing black beans in brownie recipes is amazing because they are accessible, affordable, packed with protein, easy to use and create the perfect, buttery soft texture! These protein-packed Black Bean S’mores Brownies combine two of your all-time favorite sweets: fudgy brownies and ooey gooey s’mores. If you are in the mood for an indulgent treat that really isn’t that bad for you, whip up a batch of these brownies.
12. Bean and Vegetable Loaf
Beans are the perfect base for a vegan take on the classic meatloaf. They provide all the protein, umami flavor, and dense texture that you expect from a meatloaf but are packed with fiber and are much healthier! This Bean and Vegetable Loaf is the perfect combination of meaty, savory, and filling!
13. Wild Rice and Beet Salad with Muhammara Bean Purée
This Muhammara is a roasted pepper based purée that is simple, seasonal, and so delicious to pair with the beet and rice salad. Traditionally, it is a Syrian roasted pepper, walnut, and pomegranate relish/dip for bread or meat but of course, we left all of that out in order to let its flavors truly shine.
14. Hearty Black Bean Soup
This is a savory and Hearty Black Bean Soup that is chock full of black beans and is perfect on a cold wintery day. To give it a rich and smoky taste without bacon, this recipe includes some sun-dried tomatoes and grated smoked tofu. And if you don’t care for tofu, don’t worry; you only taste the smokiness, not the tofu.
15. Charred Corn and Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Forget pizza and take-out, Charred Corn and Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are now the ultimate feel-good dish! Top it up with some hearty black beans, some deliciously charred corn, and the perfect garlic-y tahini and you’ve got yourself a meal to cure any heartache! The beans give it a certain rich and earthy meatiness which pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the potato and the corn. Together with the velvety tahini sauce, you’ve got something that is completely addictive and absolutely good for you!
For more high-protein recipes, we suggest downloading the Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!
Lead image source: Colombian Black Bean Stew
Organic Beans is available to purchase at SFMart.com