20 Vegetarian-Friendly Recipes to Add Protein to Your Salads
Meat, take a back seat. Today, we’re packing in the protein thanks to vegetarian sources, like beans, grains, nuts and seeds. Not only are these protein sources good for the body, but they’re good for our environment, too. So check yourself, Kermit. ‘Cause it’s easier being green than you’ve been leading on. Need proof? We’ve got it in these 20 protein-packed veggie salads.
1. Avocado Fruit Salad With Chia Yogurt Dressing: Super fresh, super sweet and filled with super protein power thanks to chia seeds. (via I Food Real)
2. Honey Walnut Power Salad: Do you want to feel so fresh and so green (green)? Open wide. Incoming! (via Pinch of Yum)
3. Green Goddess Kale Salad: Kale salad is nothing new. It’s crunchy, green and calcium rich. Toss in some roasted chickpeas. It’s a game changer. (via Clara Persis)
4. Roasted Mushroom and Romaine: Thanks to the meatiness of the roasted mushrooms, this is not your typical green salad. Top things off with roasted pecans for a dose of protein and a welcome play on texture. (via Cookin’ Canuck)
5. Minted Spring Pea Salad: This recipe hails from the First Lady’s recipe box. Thank you, Michelle Obama, for encouraging us to eat our peas! (via Yum Sugar)
6. Edamame Chickpea Power Salad: This recipe is here to bring new meaning to the term “power lunch.” (via 86 Lemons)
7. Black Bean Salad: Is it a salsa, a salad, a topping? Who cares? It’s versatile, healthy and tastes great by the spoonful. (via Food Network)
8. Pad Thai Salad: Make your fave Thai takeout at home. Then thank the peanuts for upping the protein ante. (via A Couple Cooks)
9. Greek Spinach Pasta Salad: We think a rousing “Opa!” sums up this salad. (via Midwest Living)
10. Soba Noodle and Vegetable Salad: Get a healthy dose of nutrients with each slurp. (via In Pursuit of More)
11. Energizing Protein Power Salad: Protein is coming at you in the form of beans. This recipe calls for kidney beans but we think you could add whatever lentil you have on hand. (via Oh She Glows)
12. Healthy Grain Salad: Millet and pine nuts equate a vegetarian protein bomb. (via Camille Styles)
13. Garlic Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Wheat Berry With Pomegranates: Basically, this salad will give you superpowers. (via Eats Well with Others)
14. Freekeh, Zucchini and Pistachio Salad: What the freak is freekeh? Just a delish, nutty and protein-packed grain. Try it! (via Oh My Veggies)
15. Southwestern Quinoa Salad With Creamy Avocado Dressing: It’s lively, it’s zesty, it’s creamy and it’s packed with everyone’s favorite ancient grain — quinoa. (via Diethood)
16. Mango, Chickpeas and Feta Roasted Yam Salad: Here’s a salad you won’t find duplicates of on the potluck table. Pairing yams with chickpeas hikes up the protein value. (via I Food Real)
17. Russian Salad: You’ll be rushin’ to get this in your mouth ; ) (via The Iron You)
18. Roasted Beet and Orange Salad: Just eat it: Colorful, sweet, tangy and fabulous. (via Baked Bree)
19. Roasted Cauliflower Hazelnut Salad: If you haven’t hopped on the roasted cauliflower bandwagon yet, we suggest you get on it. (via Love and Lemons)
20. Brussels Sprout and Apple Salad: If you think you despise Brussels sprouts, this salad begs you to give them another chance. (via Camille Styles)
Share with us your secret to a veggie-style protein-packed diet in the comments below.
