Which vegetables contain the most protein?

When it comes to protein and amino acids in plant foods, misunderstandings abound.

Protein is vital for building and repairing cells throughout your body. It’s also crucial for developing muscle, driving chemical reactions, and providing energy.

When you eat protein, your body breaks it down into amino acids. These act as building blocks for new proteins.

Your body needs more than 20 different amino acids. It can build many of these itself, but the other nine are “essential” amino acids, which it needs to get from food.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that females aged 19 years and older get 46 grams of protein per day. Males in the same age range should get 56 g.

In this article, we look at 10 high-protein vegetables and describe how much protein is in 1 serving of each. We also explore how vegetables can benefit your gut health.

Can eating vegetables give you enough protein?

Some vegetables provide a good amount of protein. So, having a well-rounded diet full of high-quality, protein-packed, nutrient-dense veggies can meet your protein needs. 

We discussed protein with Dr. Christopher Gardner, a professor at Stanford University, on the ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast. 

There’s just a slightly different balance of the acids in plants, compared with animal products. For example, beans may have good amounts of lysine but lower amounts of methionine, whereas grains are higher in methionine but lower in lysine.

So, if you have a diet with a reasonable variety of plant foods, you’ll get all the protein and amino acids you need.

Here’s a breakdown of how much protein 10 veggies provide and how to include more of them in your diet.

1. Collard greens

One boiled serving of these leafy greens provides a hefty protein punch:

• 5.15 g of protein per 190-g cup serving

• 11.2% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 9.2% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

Collards also provide more folate than other vegetables, as well as:

• calcium

• vitamin C

• beta-carotene

• lutein

• zeaxanthin

• fiber

How to eat them

You can eat collards raw in a salad, have them simmered as a side, or add them to soups, casseroles, or smoothies.

2. Sweet corn

This source of protein packs in:

• 4.74 g of protein per 145-g cup serving

• 10.3% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 8.5% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

A cup of corn also serves up plenty of:

• vitamins A, B, E, and K

• magnesium

• potassium

• fiber

How to eat it

Corn is great right off the cob. It can also sweeten up salads, vegetable dishes, BBQ side plates, fritters, stir-fries, and soups. 

3. Broccoli

Boiled, drained, unsalted broccoli provides:

• 4.28 g of protein per medium-stalk serving

• 9.3% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 7.6%  of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

Broccoli also gives you good amounts of:

• vitamin C

• folate

• fiber

How to eat it

Steaming broccoli may allow you to get more nutrients than other cooking methods.

You can also have it raw or roasted in salads, dips, pasta dishes, stir-fries, and soups.

4. Artichokes

Artichokes provide:

• 3.47 g of protein per artichoke

• 7.5% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 6.2% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

They’re also a valuable source of:

• folate

• copper

• magnesium

• vitamin C

• B vitamins

• potassium

• phosphorus

• fiber

How to eat them

Artichoke hearts go well with pasta or dipped in sauces. They’re also a nutritious treat straight from the jar.

5. Mushrooms

Mushrooms can help round off your protein intake for the day. Cooked white mushrooms offer:

• 3.38 g of protein per 156-g cup serving

• 7.3% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 6% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

In general, mushrooms give us good amounts of:

• B vitamins

• selenium

• copper

• potassium

• fiber

How to eat them

Their slightly meaty, earthy flavor makes mushrooms great in stir-fries, grilled or sauteed dishes, and omelets.

You can also stuff portobello mushroom caps with cheese, garlic, and other ingredients.

6. Kale

This leafy green is a hefty source of protein. Boiled kale provides:

• 3.47 g of protein per 118-g cup serving

• 7.5% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 6.2% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

Kale is extremely nutritionally dense. It gives us at least 10% of the daily requirement of 17 different nutrients, including:

• calcium

• selenium

• vitamins C, A, K, and E

• iron

• fiber

How to eat it

Kale adds texture to salads. You might also try it as lightly fried, seasoned chips. And blending kale into a smoothie will add a nutritional kick.

7. Swiss chard

This bitter, nutritious leafy green is a useful source of protein, offering:

• 3.29 g of protein per 175-g cup serving

• 7.2% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 5.9% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

Chard also boasts a wide range of vitamins and minerals, including:

• vitamins A, C, E, and K

• calcium

• iron

• magnesium

• phosphorus

• fiber

How to eat it

You can eat chard raw in salads, or braised or boiled in soups, casseroles, and omelets. The tender stems have a milder flavor, so go for firmer leaves if you want chard’s full zing.

8. Brussels sprouts

This underappreciated festive favorite can contribute to your daily protein intake, providing:

• 1.99 g of protein per half-cup (78-g) serving

• 4.3% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 3.6% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

Sprouts also provide:

• vitamins C and K

• potassium

• fiber

How to eat them

You can roast, boil, or pan-fry Brussels sprouts. They work well in salads and stir-fries or as a side dish.

9. Asparagus

Asparagus can offer:

• 1.44 g of protein per four-spear serving

• 3.1% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 2.6% of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

Asparagus is also highly nutritious for how many calories it contains. It offers significant servings of:

• vitamins A, E, C, and K

• folate

• potassium

• fiber

How to eat

You can eat asparagus raw, but griddling, roasting, or boiling it softens its chewy texture. You can add it to stir-fries, pasta dishes, soups, or have it as a side.

10. Potatoes

Baked potatoes with the flesh and skin intact can be a great source of protein, providing:

• 4.3 g of protein per medium potato

• 9.3% of the recommended daily amount of protein for females

• 7.7%  of the recommended daily amount of protein for males

Potatoes also serve up:

• vitamin C

• folate

• iron

• potassium

• fiber

How to eat them

How you cook a potato can affect its nutritional content.

For example, par-frying potato before baking it in an oven (instead of just frying it) may preserve the more nutrients. This process also involves less fat.

You can make oven-baked fries or wedges at home with the seasoning of your choice, or bulk out a baked potato with other protein-rich veggies.

We should note: Depending on how your body responds to food, potatoes might cause a pronounced blood sugar response.

Weight management and bodybuilding

Eating a variety of veggies will support your health goals, whether you’re looking to build muscle or reach and maintain a moderate weight. 

At ZOE, we believe in focusing on high-quality foods and listening to your body’s signals that you’re full or hungry. This approach can support both weight management and fitness goals. 

Eating a balanced diet — full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and quality fats and protein — can help give your muscles energy and provide all the nutrients you need.

“Most people get about 16, 17, 18% of their calories from protein,” he said. “Without trying, they’re pretty much getting double the [recommended dietary allowance].”

In another ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast episode, we discussed protein and exercise with Prof. Ben Wall, a nutritional physiology expert from the University of Exeter, in the United Kingdom.

He said that if you’re looking to build muscle, it’s best to eat 1.6 grams of protein for every kilogram of your body mass every day. And he recommended spacing it out by having some protein in every meal.

Plus, there are real workout benefits to getting the vital nutrients, fiber, and plant compounds that most protein bars and drinks don’t provide.

To hear the conversation with Prof. Wall, you can check out the podcast episode.

Vegetables and gut health

As we mention above, vegetables are a source of fiber, which can fuel the microorganisms in your gut.

Certain kinds of fiber support the health and diversity of your gut bugs. In turn, a healthy, diverse community of gut bugs can support your immune and metabolic health.

If you’d like to know more about how specific vegetables and a healthy gut can help you achieve your health goals, ZOE’s personalized nutrition program could help.

You can use our at-home test to learn about your body’s unique responses to food and find out which bugs make up your gut microbiome. With this information, we can then give you personalized recommendations to help you eat the best foods for you.  

Take our free quiz to find out more.

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Summary

Many vegetables have powerful collections of nutrients, including protein. In this way, they can support your weight management or workout goals.

Misunderstandings about how much protein it takes to build muscle — and how to get it — mean that we might overlook the potential of protein-rich vegetables.

Beyond the options we list, some other plant sources of protein are legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds.