13 tasty high-protein vegetarian dinners

Quick, simple, tasty and meat-free

Olive Magazine

Published: September 14, 2016 at 3:00 pm

Whether you're vegetarian or just cutting down on your meat intake, you'll find these meals tasty, satisfying and full of protein and vitamin-packed veggies. That makes them ideal for post-ride or post-training refuelling. Best of all, many of these are quick to make and only need a few ingredients. Just looking at them is making us hungry.

We've partnered with Olive magazine (also published by Immediate Media) to bring you the very best recipes for cyclists. All the recipes are easy to follow and take you through step-by-step how to create everything from home-made nutrition products to tasty and hearty post-ride meals.

1. Quick halloumi flatbreads with harissa dressing

Eat it flat or wrap it up and tuck in. Either way, this dish is delicious! - Olive Magazine

Combining creamy hummus, crunchy cucumber and spicy harissa, these simple flat breads can be whipped up in just 20 minutes - perfect after a long day at work or an evening training session. Quick haloumi flatbread recipe at Olive Magazine

2. Chilli, cheese and garlic mushroom omelette

Super-quick to whip up, with a bit of a chilli kick in with the mushrooms - Olive Magazine

There are few things as satisfying as a hot omelette with a sprinkling of melted cheese on top, particular when the weather starts to get cooler. This tasty version is packed with mushrooms, with the eggs providing a serious protein hit. Chilli, cheese and garlic mushroom omlette recipe at Olive Magazine

3. Roasted broccoli and feta flatbreads

Who needs pizza! This chickpea and broccoli flatbread makes a great alternative - Olive Magazine

This dish really packs in the superfoods, with warming cumin and sweet bursts of pomegranate seeds combining with the sharpness of lemon and chilli. Add roasted broccoli, crumbled feta cheese and some crispy onions and you've got a dish that's full of flavour and texture. Roasted broccoli and feta flatbreads recipe at Olive Magazine

4. Baked feta with cherry tomatoes and garlic toast

Warm creamy feta compliments the freshness of roasted tomatoes and the crunch of garlic bread - Olive Magazine

Managing to be both quick and easy to make AND relatively low in calories, this dish is akin to cheese on toast with a mediterranean twist. Oven-baked feat cheese is complemented by the sweetness of cherry tomatoes, with crunch garlic toast providing a satisfying carbohydrate hit. Baked feta with cherry tomatoes and garlic toast recipe at Olive Magazine

5. Spiced paneer with chilli green lentils

Indian spices flavour this delicious paneer and lentil dish - Olive Magazine

Sometimes, you just want a curry. When only a spicy dish will do, you'll be pleased to hear that you can whip this one up in under 30 minutes. Protein comes in the form of lentils and paneer cheese, with warming ginger, chilli and garam marsala spicing things up. Spiced paneer with chilli green lentils recipe at Olive Magazine

6. Glazed tofu with pickled veg

The sweetness of the tofu works perfectly with the crunchy freshness of the vegetables - Olive Magazine

At 538 calories per portion, this oriental-inspired tofu dish combines rich glazed tofu with the sharp crunch of picked mooli, carrots and peppers. Add a side of satisfying brown rice and you've got a meal that's actually quick to make but looks impressive. Glazed tofu with pickled veg recipe at Olive Magazine

7. Halloumi with caper and lemon dressing

This halloumi salad also makes a great lunch - Olive Magazine

We love this dish for dinner, but it also works really well for lunchtime, and it's guaranteed to make your colleagues envious. Crispy halloumi and tart lemon and capers make for a fresh, satisfying dish. Halloumi with caper and lemon dressing recipe at Olive Magazine

8. Coconut dahl with naans

Make up a batch of this hearty curry and freeze it, ready to feast on after those long rides when you can't face cooking - Olive Magazine

Sometimes the last thing you want to do after a long ride is start chopping, preparing and cooking food from scratch. That's what makes this light and fragrant dahl recipe ideal for just those occasions. Whip up a big batch in advance, then freeze portions and hey presto - pop it in the microwave when you're hungry and you've got a tasty, satisfying meal in a few minutes, minus the calories of other microwave meals or takeaways. Coconut dahl with naans recipe at Olive Magazine

9. Oven baked frittata

Packing in protein and iron, fritatas are also incredibly simple to make - Olive Magazine

Eggs are known for their protein punch, and in this dish it's boosted further by low fat ricotta cheese. Incredibly simple to make, this dish also has iron-rich chard or spinach, and is best served with a green salad. Oven baked frittata recipe at Olive Magazine

10. Halloumi-stuffed pittas with cucumber and pickled cabbage

We love the fresh crunch of veggies when you bite into this tasty halloumi pitta - Olive Magazine

We love the flavours packed into these halloumi pittas. Tahini, mint, lemon, vinegar and yoghurt, crammed in with cucumber and cabbage makes for a tasty, crunchy and downright delicious dinner. We like to add a drizzle of chilli sauce to spice things up a bit!Halloumi-stuffed pittas with cucumber and pickled cabbage recipe at Olive Magazine

11. California scramble

The spicy California scramble also makes a great weekend brunch - Olive Magazine

Quick and easy for dinner, this dish also makes a cracking weekend brunch, and is just what you want after a hard ride. The chilli and watercress add a spicy kick, and it can be whipped up in less than 15 minutes. Yum!California scramble recipe at Olive Magazine

12. Black bean cakes with quinoa and avocado salad

Rich, tasty and warming, these bean cakes are great for cold, wet evenings - Olive Magazine

Looking for something substantial? These black bean cakes could be what you're after. Rich, filling, and spiced with chilli and cumin, you can whip these up in 40 minutes. Pair with a tasty and light quinoa and avocado salad for a delicious midweek meal. Black bean cakes with quinoa and avocado salad recipe at Olive Magazine

13. Hoisin-glazed tofu with stir-fried brown rice

Visually impressive, and seriously tasty, we'd happily serve this to dinner guests as well as tucking in ourselves - Olive Magazine

This delicious glazed tofu with stir-fried rice has all the taste of a restaurant dish, but with a fraction of the calories. Better yet, the brown rice makes it extra filling and the broccoli and edamame beans count towards your five a day. This is one of our favourites, with the sticky sweetness of the hoisin sauce complementing the spiciness of chilli and the crunch of the broccoli perfectly.

Hoisin-glazed tofu with stir-fried brown rice recipe at Olive Magazine

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