Vegan protein sources that are not fake meat type products

[Notcontent]

We are not vegan but I would say that 90% of our meals are vegan (we don’t eat meat).

To add a bit of variety to our meals, I have tried various vegan sausage, meatball, etc type products but I don’t actually like the taste of most of them and I also find that in general they are quite highly processed and full of salt, etc to give them flavour. We eat a lot of tofu (which I really like and it goes with a lot of the food I cook) and legumes such as chickpeas but are there any other obvious protein sources that I am missing?

Nuts and seeds. Quinoa is higher in protein than rice.

Nuts? I eat loads of cashews with stir fries and curries.

Kowari - thanks - we do already eat lots of seeds, nuts and quinoa. But it’s good to know we are on the right track.

I use pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds.
Red and green lentils, chickpeas and beans.
Walnuts, cashews, almonds.

Just had leek crumble with pumpkin seeds, yesterday I had couscous with cashews and sunflower seeds.

Lentils are good too. You might need to do a bit of research (if you haven't already) into essential and non-essential amnio acids and also high biological value and low biological value foods, and protein complementation. This will help you plan meals that contain all the nutrients you need, which sometimes takes a bit more effort with vegan/near vegan diets.

Amnio acids? Amino acids!

Buckwheat groats are quite high protein. They have a nice nutty taste especially if you toast them in a dry pan (or buy the pre-toasted version called kasha) before boiling / microwaving. It's less hassle than it sounds.
Or buy buckwheat flour and make pancakes.

What about mushrooms?

Grains and pulses. Tofu, tempeh, seitan etc where you want a protein focus component. Otherwise just bung them in anything

Another vote for tempeh if you're able to get it. And yes, lots of nuts, seeds, beans, tofu, quinoa etc.

The fake meat options are grim arnt they.

Not a specific protein suggestion but the IKEA veg sausages and meat balls are so so good. Even my kids love them!!

I think I get most of my protein from tofu

www.healthline.com/nutrition/complete-protein-for-vegans#3.-Amaranth

combine your rice & beans or use 1 ingredient as a complete protein eg Teff.

Teff pancakes are lovely if you like that kind of sourdoughy, fermented taste. The flour is so expensive where I am though.

Protein complementation is so plain fake. It is a myth.
Here is the short explanation, www.ecowatch.com/hey-vegetarians-and-vegans-its-time-to-debunk-the-protein-combining-my-1891129518.html
and here is the long one go at roughly minute 35

Have just come back to this thread - thanks for all the suggestions.

I will try teff flour - that’s something I have not tried yet.

I am fortunate in that being in London I have easy access to all sorts of ingredients but the interesting thing is that while some of my local supermarkets have a plethora of different vegan products there is really only one brand of plain, fresh tofu and tempeh.

The fake meat options are grim arnt they

Not the vivera kebab "meat" I use that in sandwiches to make BLT I swear it's even nicer than streaky bacon.

Also love the meatless farm sausages.

Not to have every day obviously but now and again it's nice to have sausages and mash!

Gram flour

Interested in the responses. DP is vegetarian and I struggle to get enough protein in when we share meals so I often add meat or fish.

Just out of interest I've compared how I can get in 23g of protein in a meal.

With cod it would be a normal fillet 107 calories. 0.9g fat.

With chicken a portion 162 calories. 6.3g fat.

5.5 Quorn sausages for 424 calories. 23.9g fat.

And cashew nuts 757 calories!! 57.1g fat. (1.5x snack pots)

@legrandbleu that's really interesting. Are you a nutritionalist? Or just very clued up. I'm trying to educate myself a bit more. (You've commented on a thread I have about protein).

@Titsinknicks two tables spoons of nutritional yeast will give you 10 gr of protein for 60 calories, if you use that for a marinade for tofu 90 cal and 10 gr protein (125gr) you have now 20gr of protein for 154 calories

I am not a dietician or anything like that, so always check the source of my answers.
I have a genetic mutation which sends a cellular pathway in overdrive and causes tumours - benign and malignant - to grow. To control the RAS cellular pathway, I need to down regulate a growth factor called mTOR and I achieve that by limiting my proteins, especially methionine in animal product and my insulin.
I read an awful lot about protein and diet ( and cancer) because I want to change my fate of reduced lifespan (-26 years) and cancer (60% risk with shitty prognosis) .

Too many proteins is not good, even if you don't have cancer inducing genetic mutations.

Cashew is not a nut, it is a fruit, hence the high carb content, consider it as an candy, not as a source of protein.

Not the vivera kebab "meat" grin I use that in sandwiches to make BLT I swear it's even nicer than streaky bacon.

Lentils are great especially as there are so many types - I make a “meat” mince using lentils, mushrooms and ground walnuts and can be used in everything from bolognese to chilli to taco filling

Cashew is not a nut, it is a fruit, hence the high carb content, consider it as an candy, not as a source of protein.

Oh man, that explains the deliciousness!

Seitan made with lentils is good