se7enW
Back to Which
🏆 which

Which Vegetable Has the Most Protein?

nutritionfood science

Quick Answer

Edamame (young soybeans) tops the list at about 18 grams of protein per cooked cup.

The Full Story

Among commonly consumed vegetables, edamame (immature soybeans) contains the most protein, delivering approximately 18.4 grams per cooked cup (155 grams). Unlike most plant proteins, soy protein is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids. Lentils (18 g per cup), chickpeas (14.5 g per cup), and green peas (8.6 g per cup) are other protein-rich options, though legumes are sometimes classified separately from vegetables. Among non-legume vegetables, spinach, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are relatively protein-dense at about 4–5 grams per cooked cup. The recommended daily protein intake for an average adult is about 50–60 grams.

Key Facts

1.Soybeans have been cultivated in East Asia for over 5,000 years and are one of the oldest domesticated crops
2.Broccoli has more protein per calorie than steak — but you would need to eat far more broccoli by volume
3.Quinoa, though technically a seed, is another complete plant protein with about 8 grams per cooked cup

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The most protein-packed vegetables — can you build muscle on plants alone?"