Which vegetables are highest in protein?
Vegetables tend to be lower in protein than meat, eggs, and dairy, but some plant foods can still deliver meaningful amounts—especially legumes. The highest-protein “vegetables” are typically ones that are also seeds/pods used as vegetables.
High-protein vegetable categories include:
- Legumes and pulse vegetables: lentils, chickpeas, peas, and beans.
- High-protein greens and some starchy vegetables: certain greens and vegetables like broccoli can contribute smaller but noticeable amounts.
What specific vegetables are most protein-dense?
Among commonly eaten vegetables, the most protein-dense options are usually:
- Lentils (a pulse/legume)
- Chickpeas (a pulse/legume)
- Beans (kidney, black, pinto, etc.; pulses/legumes)
- Peas (green peas; a legume)
- Edamame (soybeans; often served as a vegetable)
These foods tend to have the highest protein per serving compared with most leafy greens.
How much protein do vegetables actually provide?
Protein content varies a lot by serving size and whether the vegetable is dried, cooked, frozen, or raw. Legumes (like lentils and beans) generally provide much more protein per cooked serving than most non-legume vegetables.
If you want, share which vegetables you eat most (and whether you’re comparing cooked vs raw, and typical serving sizes). I can help you rank them by protein for your specific options.