Vegan Protein Oatmeal (No Protein Powder)

This vegan protein oatmeal requires a quick stir of red lentils into your oats to boost its protein and fiber. 

I’m excited by lentils because plant protein and soluble fiber are my jam.  These nutrients will help you lower your cholesterol and keep you full for hours after your meal.

Lentil oatmeal is a high-fiber, vegan recipe for those who limit or avoid animal-based products. Or for those looking for more plant-based options.

Why Make Lentil Oatmeal

• Includes a protein source for breakfast
• Helps manage cholesterol and blood sugar
• Satisfying and satiating (hungry by 10 am? not with this breakfast! )
• Lentils are undetected in the oat mixture and disguised well (my husband didn’t even notice!)

Is Lentil Porridge Heart Healthy?

This vegan protein oatmeal offers:

• 16 grams of plant-based protein from the soy milk, lentils, oats
• 13 grams of fiber from the lentils, oats, pumpkin

Packed with protein AND fiber, these vegan protein oats will keep you full for hours. 

Protein

When it comes to breakfast, many people focus solely on carbohydrates (cereal, toast, etc).  Carbohydrates aren’t bad, but at each meal, we want a balance of the 3 macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

Protein Is Important Because It Helps:

• blood sugar balance
• keeps you full
• helps with digestion (creates digestive enzymes)
• muscle growth and maintenance
• liver function

Other Ways To Add Protein To Oatmeal:

• dairy milk
• Greek yogurt
• egg white

… or keep your protein oatmeal vegan with:

• hemp seeds
• high protein milk like soy
• nuts

Ingredients In Protein Porridge

The two ingredients you need to know more about are lentils and steel-cut oats. Both ingredients can unclog your arteries and lower your blood pressure. The remaining ingredients are used for flavor and can be switched to your liking.

Lentils

As previously mentioned, lentils offer protein. One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it is high in protein without protein powder.  I’m not a huge fan of the taste of protein powder, and the fact it is a processed food. Protein powder is expensive, and lentils aren’t.  So why not try it?

Other benefits of lentils are:

• a low glycemic index food
• gluten-free
• a source of iron
• rich in B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium
• healthy for gut bacteria
• EASY! purchase them in the dry form, and no pre-soaking is required
• inexpensive

… should I go on??

Steel Cut Oats

Since lentils take a while to cook, I used steel-cut oats in this recipe instead of rolled oats. Steel cut oats are less processed (which means more nutrients for you!), and take the same amount of time as lentils to cook.

Additionally, steel-cut oats grainy texture looks like red lentils which keeps them easily disguised.

How To Make High Protein Vegan Oatmeal

And to make it? Just add all the ingredients together, bring the protein porridge to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer for 25-30 min. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, and then top it with your favorite nuts for heart-healthy fats!

Could it be any easier?

Vegan Protein Oats Recipe Video

Watch how easy it is to make protein oatmeal vegan.

Variations Of Lentil Oatmeal

For this recipe, I added pumpkin puree for a Vitamin A-rich vegetable, and pumpkin pie spice mix for flavor!

High protein vegan oatmeal is just as versatile as regular oatmeal, so any flavor combo will work well.  Switch it up depending on what’s in your pantry so you won’t tire of it easily

Vegan

This recipe is vegan as is!

Gluten-Free

The ingredients in the recipe are naturally gluten-free, just be sure your oats are made in a certified gluten-free facility.

Heart Healthy Add-Ins

• flaxseed (for more fiber)
• chia seed (for more omega 3)
• hemp seed (for more protein)

Try Adding Vegetables and Fruits

• carrots (with carrot cake spices)
• applesauce (with apple pie spices)
• I’ve even heard of cauliflower or zucchini (although, I’ve never tried it myself)

Other Oat Recipes

And low sodium oatmeal, vegan protein oatmeal, overnight oat bran, pecan pie overnight oats, pb2 overnight oats, turmeric energy balls, low sodium pancakes, pumpkin protein balls, turmeric oatmeal, list of oatmeal recipes, list of oat bran recipes and blueberry cheesecake overnight oats.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy this lentil porridge as much as I do! The flavor options are endless for this protein-rich breakfast, so have fun with it!

And if you LOVE this recipe and are interested in other heart-healthy recipes, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I’d love to have you follow along to learn even more heart-healthy recipe ideas from yours truly! Click here to subscribe @theheartdietitian!