Protein Ninja: Power through Your Day with 100 Hearty Plant-Based Recipes that Pack a Protein Punch

by Terry Hope Romero

Overview

I wanted protein recipes other than that mashing a vanilla-flavored powder with almond butter and flax seeds and calling it a day. I wanted something that really made me feel as if I was cooking. And yes, even good old-fashioned baking! Adding pure, unflavored, but wholesome plant-based protein powders to recipes brings out my inner foodie alchemist. I heard the call of the protein ninja.

Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or eat-everything-you-can-get-your-hands-on, a weeknight home chef, everyday athlete, or just a busy person looking wholesome, protein-rich snacks and meals, you deserve something better than another chia seed ball or protein shake for dinner. Award-winning vegan chef Terry Hope Romero leads the charge with 100 lean, mean recipes using a wide range of readily available ingredients — from supermarket-friendly staples to cutting-edge superfoods and an arsenal of gluten- and soy-free options. With an everything-you-need-to-know rundown on plant-based protein sources, and chapters like Stealthy Protein Pancakes, Waffles, Scrambles, & Much Much More, Super Toast: Savory or Sweet, and Better than Ever Burger Bowls, you'll soon be sneaking plant-based protein into your breakfasts, dinners, and everything in between.

Dig into:
Chocolate Avocado Smoothie Bowl
Golden Corn Hemp Protein Waffles
Baked Veggie Pan Omelet
Edamame Spelt Flatbreads
Garam Masala Red Lentil Toast
Cheezy Herb Kale Scones
Green Goddess Burger & Roasted Potatoes Bowl
Tomato Gravy & Biscuit Kale Bowl
Korean Tofu Taco Salad
Lemongrass Tempeh Meatballs with Peanut Satay Sauce
Waffled Tofu, Waffles & Collards Bowl
Black Bean Hemp Brownies
Peanut Butter Coconut Cherry Chewies
. . . and many more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738218496
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	02/09/2016
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Terry Hope Romero is the author of several bestselling and award-winning cookbooks. Named Favorite Cookbook Author by VegNews, Terry lives, cooks, and eats in Queens, NYC.

Table of Contents

Introduction: That Old Protein Question 2

Part 1 Enter the Protein Ninja

Stealth Vegan Protein: A Protein Ninja Primer 6

The Protein Ninja Pantry 8

Ninja Basics 12

Recipe Icons and This Book 13

Basic Bean Recipe 14

Quinoa 15

Short-Grain Brown Rice 15

The Steamed Seitan to Rule Them All 16

My Best Coconut Bacon 18

Part 2 The Recipes

Unstoppable Smoothie Bowls and Granola

Mango Avocado Hemp Smoothie Bowl 24

Matcha Mini Bowl 24

Açal Avocado Bowl 24

Papaya Lime Bowl 24

Vanilla Almond Smoothie Bowl 26

Peanut Butter Strawberry Bowl 27

Ginger Chai Spice Bowl 27

Matcha Latte Bowl 27

Pumpkin Pie Bowl 27

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie Bowl 29

Chocolate Almond Bowl 30

Mocha Bowl 30

Cold Brew Bomber Bowl 30

Chocolate Minty Greens Bowl 30

Pineapple Yogurt Bowl 31

Acerola Cherry Vitamin C Monster Bowl 32

Ginger Lemon Cayenne Cold Blaster Bowl 32

Watermelonberry Bowl 32

Chocolate Maca Chia Pudding 33

Strawberry 'n' Protein Chia Pudding 34

Any Berry Protein Chia Pudding 34

Chocolate Hazelnut Hemp Granola 35

Mocha Latte Granola 36

Chocolate Gingerbread Granola 36

Trail Mix Protein Granola 37

Matcha Strawberry Granola 38

Stealthy Protein Pancakes, Waffles, and Much Much More

Everyday Pea Protein Pancakes 42

Whole-Gram Pancakes 43

Sunshine in a Pancake 43

Banana Coconut Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancakes 44

Almost Old-Fashioned Buckwheat Pancakes 45

Berry Buckwheat Pancakes 45

Pumpkin Power Pancakes 46

Sweet Potato or Butternut Squash Pancakes 47

Wake Up Waffles 48

Golden Corn Hemp Protein Waffles 50

Lemon Poppy Seed Corn Waffles 51

Peanut Butter & Raspberry French Toast Sandwiches 52

Avocado & Coconut Bacon French Toast 53

Tempeh Bacon Strips 55

Tempeh Sausage Sage Gravy 56

Button Up White Bean Gravy 59

Maple Breakfast Sausages 61

Tempeh Apple Sage Sausage Patties 64

Garbanzo Veggie Pancakes with Cilantro Mint Apple Chutney 65

Endless Variations 66

Cilantro Mint Apple Chutney 67

Early Bird Scrambled Tofu 68

Baked Veggie Pan Omelet 70

The Protein Bakery Basket

Fluffy Rice Protein Drop Biscuits 75

Coconut Bacon Spinach Biscuits 76

Hempy Corn Bread 77

Sweet Potato Pea Biscuits 79

Olive Rosemary Biscuits 81

Spicy Seftan Biscuits 82

Edamame Spelt Flatbreads 83

Cilantro Mint Garbanzo Bean Flatbreads 84

Cheezy Herb Scones 86

Cheezy Kale Scones 88

Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Scones 89

Blueberry Lemon Protein Scones 91

Raspberry Lime Scones 90

Pumpkin Mocha Latte Protein Scones 92

Pumpkin Spice Cranberry Scones 93

Classic Hemp Protein Berry Muffins 94

Chocolate Chip Muffins 96

Bakery-Style Blueberry Rice Protein Muffins 97

Cranberry Walnut Orange Muffins 98

Lemon Pistachio Poppy Seed Muffins 99

Chocolate Hemp Avocado Muffins 99

Sunshine Chia Corn Muffins 100

Banana Buckwheat Breakfast Cookies 101

Super Toast: Savory and Sweet

Edamame & Pea Avocado Toast 104

Chickpea Pesto Tomato Toast 105

Pub Beans on Toast 106

Ginger Squash Adzuki Toast 108

Black Sesame Gomasio 109

White Bean a Cashew Ricotta Toast 111

Goram Masala Red Lentil Toast 112

Spinach Dill Ricotta Toost 114

Chocolate Hazelnut Chikdate Toast 115

Superfood Chocolate Almond Toast 118

Protein-Packed Patties and Burgers

Super Hemp Protein Beet Burgers 123

Tomato Zucchini Dill Burgers 125

Sunny Oat Burgers 126

Black Bean Hemp Burgers 129

Green Goddess Burgers 131

Vegetable Kormo Tofu Patties 133

Pinto BBQ Seitan Burgers 135

Lentil Walnut Loaf 138

Chickpea Eggplant Hemp Veggieballs & Simple Spicy Tomato Sauce 140

Baked Green Falafel with Pea Protein 142

Better than ever Burger Bowls

Green Goddess Burger's Roasted Potatoes Bowl 147

Cashew Hemp Goddess Dressing 148

Dill Pickle Thousand Island Cashew Dressing 148

Creamy Cucumber Garlic Dressing 148

Kormo Burger with Coconut Quinoa & Spinach Solod 149

Sunny Oat Burger Bowl 151

Pinto BBQ Burger Bowl with Succotash Sauté & Roasted Red Pepper Dressing 153

Falafel Bowl with Lemon Roasted Potatoes, Basil Lemon Cashew Dressing, & Chopped Mediterranean Salad 155

Lentil Walnut Loaf Sunday Night Roast Bowl 158

Black Bean Hemp Burger Bowl with Retried Corn Quinoa & Mango Chia Salsa 160

Korean Tofu Taco Salad 162

Taco Salad Tortilla Bowls 165

Grain and Noodle Bowls

Tomato Gravy & Biscuit Kale Bowl 167

Seiton Mushroom Chops with White Bean Smashed Potatoes 170

Five-spice Chickpea Peanut Noodle Bowl 175

Lemongrass Tempeh Meatballs with Peanut Satay Sauce 177

Pro Mac with Roasted Broc 181

Creamy Tomato Tofu Curry with Cilantro Garbanzo Flatbread 183

Waffled Tofu, Waffles & Collords Bowl with Spicy Maple Syrup 187

Spinach & Coconut Bacon Salad, Sweet Potato Biscuits, & Button Up White Bean Gravy 189

Modern-Day Seitan Macro Bowl 190

Modern-Day Tofu Macro Bowl 191

Blackest Bean Chocolate Seitan Chili & Corn Bread Bowl 193

Sweet Treats

Black Bean Hemp Brownies 196

Hazelnut Chip Navy Blondies 198

Peanut Butter Coconut Cherry Chewies 201

Dark Chocolate Almond Chewies 202

Chocolate Chip Ninja Cookies 204

Chocolate Chocolate Ninja Cookies 205

Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies 206

Pistachio Cranberry Avocado Softies 207

Crunchy Nutty Peanut Butter Hemp Cookies 209

Coconut-Sweetened Peanut Butter Hemp Cookies 210

Thumbprint Peanut Butter Hemp Cookies 210

No-bake Sweet & Salty Granola Bars 212

Frozen Avocado Pudding Protein Cheesecakes 215

Granola & Almond Butter Baked Apples 217

Orange Creme Frostycakes 220

Cashew Ginger Rice Pudding 222

Pure & Simple Cashew Rice Pudding 223

Thanks & Acknowledgments 224

Metric Conversions 225

Index 226

Editorial Reviews

Sand and Succotash, 3/23/16
“If worrying about not getting enough protein in your diet is the only thing holding you back from becoming vegan, Protein Ninja dispels that worry and provides over 100 protein rich recipes for you to choose from…with gluten-free and soy-free options, too…A really great cookbook if you are wanting to increase your protein take.”

InfoDad blog, 3/17/16
“Less talky and less of an advocacy book than many aimed at vegans…Absent here are the cutesy titles to which some recipe books gravitate…This is a book that delivers to vegans just what its subtitle promises: ‘a protein punch.'”

Library Journal, 3/15/16
“[Romero] once again shows that protein comes in a variety of forms and can be seasoned any number of ways…Refreshingly, her recipes don't rely on standbys such as tofu and tempeh for every meal…The common ingredients used throughout (ginger, garlic, liquid smoke, etc.) are easy to find…With creative and satisfying recipes, including ones that are gluten free and nut free, Romero's latest is sure to be in demand for eaters of all types, especially those who avoid eating animal products.”

Washington Book Review, 3/2/16
“This book is full of great recipes…Protein Ninja will not replace your old cookbook but it will complement all the cookbooks you may have in your kitchen. It not only provides about a hundred tasty, scrumptious recipes but also techniques to improve your cooking by using protein powder to cook what you already cook.”

Curled Up with a Good Book, 3/8/16
“If you are seriously into veganism, or want to really bounce around on a protein-induced muscle-building exercise high, this is the book for you. Veteran cookery writer Terry Hope Romero has come up with unusual new recipes to tickle your meatless fancy…With vivid color photos that make every dish look delectable, a handy, kitchen-y sort of size, and a complete food index, Protein Ninja is a must-have for soy-weary vegans, those who like their protein a goodly distance from the cow, and even those new to the whole vegan ethos.”

Milwaukee Shepherd-Express, 3/15/16
“[Romero] isn't a militant proselytizer but a vegan author-chef who seems perfectly satisfied if her omnivore readers simply add more plant-based items to their diet.”


Whisk and Quill, 3/24/16
“Gives us recipes for every meal of the day. Gratefully they are quick and easy, as well as ethnically diverse. No bored palates. The collection offers plant-based protein dishes that are more sophisticated and creative. One might easily say, gourmet…Romero offers tons of advice on how to easily up your protein intake.”

Soul Cycle, 4/14/16
“An impressive collection of perhaps the best high-protein foods for meat-free eaters…Romero's recipes prove suitable for athletes and laymen alike.”

T.O.F.U. Magazine, 4/13/16
“This book isn't just for athletes…If you're looking for a boost of protein in your diet or meals, or don't know how to answer that question ‘But where do you get your protein?' this book is phenomenal…In addition to upping the protein game, the flavours are what you'd expect from Terry: bold, distinctive, a bit quirky, and addictive.”

Portland Oregonian, 4/13/16
“Features 100 plant-based recipes that are loaded with protein, and some of that coming from stealth protein powders, which Romero deploys ninja-style.”

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/21/16
“[Romero] leads the charge with 100 lean, mean recipes using a wide range of readily available ingredients—from supermarket-friendly staples to cutting-edge superfoods.”

Praise for Protein Ninja

VegNews, January/February 2016
“We've all heard the dreaded ‘but where do you get your protein?' question, and thanks to Terry Hope Romero, we've now got answers, as the vegan icon's latest cookbook features 100 plant-protein-packed recipes perfect for everyone from professional athletes to people on the go.”

Vegetarian Times, March 2016
“Protein Ninja deliciously explains how to sneak more protein into vegan recipes.”

Metro, 2/29/16
“Protein Ninja proves sneaking protein into your meals isn't hard, it just takes a little creativity.”

Lisa's Project Vegan, 2/17/16
“[Romero] delivers new and clever ways to make sure we get enough protein…What a great book…The recipes are creative, flavorful and easy to follow…This is cookbook that should be on your kitchen bookshelf. It is fun, different and a great answer to the age old question, but how do you get your protein?”

Powell's Books Blog, 2/29/16
“[Romero's] vegan books have helped to bring about a new vegan renaissance…Protein Ninja addresses the concern many healthy food advocates have with a vegan diet—the lack of protein…I'm an omnivore and I'll happily cook from Protein Ninja.

From the Publisher

03/15/2016
In 2014, Romero proved that veganism was more than sad-looking salads with her best-selling Salad Samurai. Here, the author once again shows that protein comes in a variety of forms and can be seasoned any number of ways. Romero, who blogs at veganlatina.com and manages food and crafts outreach at Kickstarter, describes her journey from vegetarian to vegan and provides an informational guide to both protein powders and flours that are high in protein. Refreshingly, her recipes don't rely on standbys such as tofu and tempeh for every meal, instead showcasing variations of smoothie bowls and muffins for breakfast and everything from flatbreads to salads for lunch or dinner. There are plenty of ideas for desserts such as cookies and cakes, and accompaniments such as chutneys as well. Dishes are customizable; omitting nuts from a seitan-based chili still yielded incredible flavors from a combination of paprika, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. Most beneficial are the color-coded pages that indicate the type of protein used in each meal, and that the common ingredients used throughout (ginger, garlic, liquid smoke, etc.) are easy to find. VERDICT With creative and satisfying recipes, including ones that are gluten free and nut free, Romero's latest is sure to be in demand for eaters of all types, especially those who avoid eating animal products.—Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal

Library Journal