Fava Beans: With nearly 26.12 g/100 g, it's the legume with the highest protein content. Fava beans are a nutritional powerhouse, providing ample carbohydrates, protein, fiber and vitamins, even when dried!
Beans and legumes high in protein include soybeans, lentils, white beans, cranberry beans, split peas, pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, navy beans, and limas. The list below is ranked by the most protein per cup cooked.
All types of beans—including black, cranberry, Great Northern, dark red kidney, light red kidney, white kidney, navy, pink, pinto, and small red—are good sources of protein, excellent sources of fiber, and naturally fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free.
Lentils. Lentils have more protein than any other bean (including chickpeas, white beans, and black beans). One cup contains a hefty 18 grams of protein, while the same amount of chickpeas has 14 grams.
Soybeans. Tofu, tempeh and edamame all come from soybeans which is a whole source of protein that gives you all the amino acids that your body needs. You can use tofu which is made from bean curds and comes in a variety of textures in a wide range of dishes.
They provide nearly 20 grams of protein in a ½-cup serving. However, chickpeas aren't a complete protein because they don't provide adequate amounts of the nine essential amino acids. To make them a complete protein, eat them with wheat, oats or rice. Chickpeas are also a source of folate, fiber, iron and phosphorus.
Chickpeas are a good source of protein.
One half-cup serving of chickpeas has 6 grams of protein. For perspective, the Daily Value for protein is 50 grams per day. That's a hefty serving of protein, btw.
Black Lentils (Beluga lentils)
Best of all, black lentils are the most nutritious variety of lentils, boasting the highest amount of protein, plus high levels of calcium, potassium, and iron.
Beans and legumes: Beans and legumes are a rich source of fiber and B vitamins. They are also a great replacement for meat as a source of vegetarian protein.
That's why the Healthy Eating Plate encourages choosing healthy protein foods. Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats.
Combining incomplete proteins to form a complete protein
Whole grains with beans (beans and rice; hummus and pita bread; bean-based chili and crackers; refried beans and tortillas) Beans with nuts or seeds (salad with chickpeas and sunflower seeds)
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommends eating about 3 cups of legumes—like pinto, kidney, or black beans—per week. If you eat about ½ cup of beans every day, you'll meet the weekly Dietary Guidelines for beans.
If the protein you eat has all the 9 types of amino acids you need to get from food, it is called a "complete protein." Great sources of complete proteins are: Fish. Poultry (chicken, duck, or turkey) Eggs. Dairy products (milk, yogurt, or cheese, for example)
A whole medium avocado contains about 240 calories, 13 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams protein, 22 grams fat (15 grams monounsaturated, 4 grams polyunsaturated, 3 grams saturated), 10 grams fiber, and 11 milligrams sodium.
With about 6 grams of protein apiece, eggs are an excellent source of this vital nutrient. But lots of other foods offer as much or more. For example, chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) provide nearly 8 grams of protein per 1/2 cup. People have enjoyed them since the days of ancient Egypt.
You can eat at least one serving (28 grams) of chickpeas per day. However, don't eat more than 70 grams a day since that can cause adverse side effects. If you consume too many chickpeas, some side effects you may get include bloating, nausea, and gas.
Like all legumes, chickpeas are a source of protein, and they're optimal for muscle building. Just 100 grams' worth of chickpeas contains a whole 9 grams of protein. They also contain fiber and minerals such as iron as well as magnesium, which keeps our muscles functioning smoothly*.
Beans, lentils and chickpeas have essential amino acids that brown rice lacks. Simply pairing rice and beans will give you a vegan-friendly meal with complete proteins.
Contains All Essential Amino Acids
The casein in Greek yogurt is a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids: methionine, lysine, isoleucine, histidine, valine, tryptophan, threonine, phenylalanine and leucine.
While all beans pack a ton of plant protein, lentils top the list with about 18 grams of protein per cup.