35 Protein Packed Vegetarian Pasta Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to get protein in pasta without meat? ›

Some of the best sources in the plant world include beans, legumes, lentils, soy like tofu or edamame, seeds and nuts and some whole grains like quinoa. Certain vegetables also contain small amounts of protein like zucchini, kale and collards (think leafy greens).

The best pasta dishes for vegetarians focus on vegetables such as pasta primavera, ravioli, tortellini, or pasta with plain tomato sauce, which are all Italian dishes that are vegetarian.

Whole-Wheat Pasta

Also called whole-grain pasta, this type of pasta keeps the bran, endosperm, and germ of the grain together. It's filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This helps you feel full longer and keeps your blood sugar from spiking.

Durum flour is derived from prime hard semolina wheat and is the Protein King of wheat flours with about 14g of protein per 100g of flour. It makes a strong and balanced pasta dough, characterised by it's bright, golden colour and robust nature.

Among the highest protein vegetables are chickpeas, corn, spinach, artichoke hearts, and edamame. To get all of the amino acids your body needs, aim to eat a variety of foods, such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables throughout the day.

Any one of the following plant foods can be added to make a pasta dish a complete protein: Legumes (with the exception of soy) such as peas, and beans, including those that are dried, processed or baked.

The results: Hopefully this article helps to clear up whether you should opt for pasta or rice with your meals. For lower calorie and carbohydrate content, rice comes out top. But if protein and fibre is your aim, pasta wins over rice.

How to add protein to pasta without meat? ›

And if you want extra plant protein (good news: pasta already contains around 5 to 8 grams of protein per cup!), then look no further than beans, nuts, and seeds, like cashews, pistachios, white beans, and pumpkin seeds. Plus, not only do these ingredients add extra protein, they also improve flavor and texture.

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

Despite having eggs in them, egg noodles have less protein than pasta. Egg noodles have about 1.3 fewer grams of protein than pasta (per 100 grams). Cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is a fatty substance that you find in animal products like meat fat, dairy, and eggs.

Meaning pasta actually has enough protein to balance with the carbohydrates. This isn't just because of the eggs in pasta either. Wheat is another source of protein, making up about 20% of the proteins eaten globally. If you are worried about the calorie levels and weight gain, that's not so simple either.

Whole-Wheat Pasta Nutrition

“Dietary fiber is essential to gut health and the digestion process, attributing to satiety and fullness with eating.” Whole grains contain 25 percent more protein than their refined counterparts, according to the Whole Grains Council.