Best Iron Rich Recipes - Vegan Richa (2024)

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Learn all about iron-rich vegan foods and how to incorporate them into a real-world, everyday meals for optimal absorption in this round-up of delicious iron-rich recipes.

Best Iron Rich Recipes - Vegan Richa (1)

Iron deficiency is quite a common nutrient deficiency in the world and affects vegans and omnivores alike. The good news is that you can get all the iron your body needs from Plants. When we think about iron, our minds wander to red meat etc. But there are lots of plant-based foods containing good amounts of this essential mineral as well.

Iron Absorption

Now, one thing is choosing iron-rich foods. The other thing is making sure your body can absorb that iron. You can enhance your body’s absorption of iron by drinking citrus juice or eating or adding other foods rich in vitamin C at the same time that you eat high-iron foods.

Another little trick: Use a cast-iron skillet. Cooking in a cast iron skillet can add significant amounts of iron to your food and into your body.

It’s often really surprising foods that contain a lot of iron. Like Blackstrap molasses 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses has 3.6 mg. You can add molasses to vegan baked beans, any baked oatmeal recipe, or add some to salad dressings. Mix and match lentils and beans or beans and spinach to make an iron packed meal.

If your readings are consistently low even after eating thoughtfully, consult your doctor about it. People can have absorption issues and will need supplementation even with an iron-rich diet.

For high protein options, check this collection!
Without further ado, here are some hearty vegan meals to try that combine iron-rich foods with ingredients that help to absorb it well.

Best Vegan Recipes using Iron rich foods

Lentils

1 cup of lentils has 6.6 mg iron. Paired with other iron sources such as spinach, tomatoes and that bit of lemon for the vitamin c that helps iron absorption and you are all set. Lentils are so easy to incorporate into your everyday like. Try them in lentil soups, tacos, pasta sauce, and even brownies

Vegan Stuffed Butternut Squash with Lentil Apple Filling

Vegan Stuffed Butternut Squash with Lentil & Apple filling is a hearty and satisfying plant-based main course for any winter dinner and makes for a showstopping holiday meal! Easy to make ahead of time!

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Vegan Red Lentil Sweet Potato Curry

This creamy Thai inspired Vegan Red Lentil Sweet Potato Curry features healthy coconut milk and plenty of veggies. It's all made in just one pot, gluten-free and perfect as a quick weeknight dinner!

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Instant Pot Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes

Instant Pot Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes! 1 Pot, 30 min, freezer friendly tangy flavorful sloppy lentils. Serve in sandwiches with slaw or over tater tots or baked potato. Vegan Glutenfree Soyfree Nutfree Recipe

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Lentil Curry Casserole

Make this easy Vegan Curry Lentil Casserole whenever that craving for restaurant-style creamy Indian lentil dishes hits. Brown lentils simmered in a fragrant coconut curry broth, served over rice! So easy, so delicious. Gluten-free, too.

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Lentil Bolognese With Spaghetti

This Lentil Bolognese Sauce is hearty with Red lentils and Mushrooms, flavors with herbs, sauce and great with Spaghetti or other pasta. 22 Gm of Protein. Vegan Soyfree Nutfree Recipe. Can be gluten-free with glutenfree pasta

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Vegan Lentil Quinoa Loaf

This Lentil Quinoa Loaf with a Spicy Ketchup glaze is nut-free, vegan and can be made gluten-free. Perfect addition to a holiday meal. Makes 1 loaf, serves 3 to 4

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Turmeric Lentil Fritters Tomato Bowl with Tahini Dill Sauce

Turmeric Lentil Fritters Tomato Greens Bowl with Tahini Dill Sauce. Baked Seedy Golden Lentil fritters with greens, tomatoes and a tahini sauce make an easy Lunch bowl. Vegan Nut-free Soy-free Recipe. Easily Glutenfree. Makes 16 to 18 fritters

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Vegan Enchiladas Recipe with Lentils and Black Beans

Vegan Enchiladas Recipe. Easy Enchilada Recipe with Blender Enchilada Sauce, soft tortillas filled with black beans, spinach and lentils. Vegan Soy-free Recipe. Can be Gluten-free. Ready within 1 Hour. Makes 1 rectangular pan (8 by 12). (Pictured in 9 by 9 pan. You might have some leftover filling and sauce depending on how many tortillas you fit in). .

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Tofu

High in protein and iron – 4 oz has 6.4 mg. Tofu paired with greens or beans makes for a satisfying and nutritious meal

Sheet Pan Veggie Dinner with Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Tofu, Chickpeas & Miso Maple Dressing

Sheet Pan Veggie Dinner with Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Tofu, Chickpeas, Sunflower seeds dressed with Miso Maple Dressing. Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Recipe. Can be soyfree with chickpea miso. 23 gm of Protein!

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Malai Tofu ( Vegan Malai Paneer)

Malai Tofu - a simple Indian weeknight curry with tofu in a thick spiced tomato coconut milk sauce. Serve with naan and/or rice for a delicious plant-based dinner. Soy-free option included.

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Vegan Creamy Cajun Pasta with Breaded tofu.

Vegan Creamy Cajun Pasta with Crisp Breaded tofu. Nut-free Creamy Cajun Spice Sauce with Farfalle and Breaded Tofu. Vegan Nut-free Recipe. Soy-free option. Easily oil-free

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Vegan Zucchini Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta (not watery) gluten-free

Vegan Gluten free Zucchini Lasagna with creamy Tofu Herb Ricotta and Red Lentils! Grain-free, can be nut-free. 15 G of Protein. Can be made ahead. Makes a 9 by 9 inch baking dish.

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Vegan Tofu Katsu Curry

Curb your Japanese take-out cravings with this easy homemade vegan tofu katsu curry recipe! Crispy panko breaded tofu in a creamy mildly spiced curry sauce. Nutfree, GF option soyfree option

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Spinach

Spinach is another excellent source of iron. 1 cup has 6.4 mg. Spinach in combination with chickpeas, lentils or tofu makes for an iron rich meal.

Spicy Tofu Spinach Stir fry (15 Minute 1 Pan)

An easy Spicy Spinach Tofu Stir-fry that can be made in 1 pot within 15 minutes. This recipe is a lifesaver come dinnertime. weeknight Indian spiced Tofu Spinach curry with almost no chopping! Gluten-free, Nut-free, soy-free option.

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Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta Bake

You will love this delicious vegan spinach and artichoke pasta bakerecipe. It's like havingspinachandartichokedip, but for dinner! Nutfree.

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Chickpea Spinach Pie with Berbere Spice

Chickpea Spinach Pie with Berbere Spice. Easy Chickpea Spinach Pastry for holidays and company with vegan puff pastry. Use spices or blends of choice. Use lentils for variation. Vegan Soy-free Nut-free Recipe.

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Chickpea Lentil Quinoa Spinach Stew

This chickpea Lentil Quinoa Spinach Stew is easy, filing, full of protein and delicious. Free of dairy, egg, corn, soy, gluten

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Chickpeas and Kidney Beans

Great sources of iron and you can easily combine them. 1 cup of chickpeas has 3.6 mg 1 cup kidney beans has 5.2 mg

Instant Pot Vegan Chili - Oil-free Kidney Bean Red Lentil Chili

Instant Pot Vegan Chili - Oil-free Kidney Bean Red Lentil Chili. Easy Flavorful Pressure Cooker Vegetarian Chili. Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Soyfree Recipe. Saucepan Option

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Vegan Coconut & Peanut Stew with Kidney Beans

This deliciously creamy and rich coconut-based Vegan Peanut Stew makes for a warm and comforting easy weeknight meal that’s super quick and simple to make using just one pot. Packed with healthy vegetables and plant-based protein from kidney beans and peanut butter! Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free and plant-based! Serve over rice

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Baked Chickpea Sweet Potato Curry Vegan

Baked Chickpea Sweet Potato Curry - a one-pot wonder made in one casserole dish. So easy to make, so perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. No standing around and sautéing needed. Glutenfree, soy-free, nut-free option.

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Buffalo Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This Buffalo Chickpea Salad Sandwich is the ultimate vegan lunch sandwich with a spicy chickpea salad that has all the flavors of buffalo wings! 100% plant-based perfect for a summer picnic or as an office lunch!

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Jalapeno Popper Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This Jalapeno Popper Chickpea Salad Sandwich recipe combines two favorites into a new exciting lunch sandwich! Protein-rich chickpeas and veggies tossed with a creamy tofu based jalapeño popper dip, with a bit of a kick thanks to both pickled and fresh jalapenos! Soyfree option Glutenfree option

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Chickpea Veggie Loaf - Vegan Meatloaf Recipe

Chickpea Veggie Loaf with spices and a spicy bbq glaze. Chickpea Cannellini bean Veggie "meat" loaf for Thanksgiving and the holidays. Easy and delicious. Vegan Recipe. Makes 1 loaf. I use 9 by 5 inch pan, Nut-free, Soy-free, Can be gluten-free

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Ethiopian Berbere Chickpea Pizza Recipe with Tahini Garlic Dressing

Ethiopian Berbere Chickpea Pizza with Tahini Garlic Dressing. Amazingly flavorful pizza. Dress with tahini dressing, vegan ranch or other creamy dressing. Vegan Soyfree Nut-free Recipe. Gluten-free Crust option.. Makes 1 large pizza

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Beans and soycurls

Most beans are good sources of iron. Combination of beans with other beans or lentils, or soycurls adds a boost of iron to the meal. Soycurls with cashews which are also a good source of iron adds up!

Skillet Enchiladas with Soy Curls

Everyone will love these unconventional vegan skillet enchiladas made in one skillet with soy curls, black beans, sauteed veggies, queso, and crunchy tortilla chips. Garnish with your favorite Mexican toppings like cilantro, vegan shredded cheese, and avocado. A great recipe for 5 de Mayo

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Dragon Chicken Soycurls (Indo-Chinese Recipe)

Dragon Chicken Soycurls - a vegan twist on Indo-Chinese restaurant classic. Soycurls are Marinated and baked then tossed in a fiery spicy sweet cashew pepper sauce. Glutenfree.

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Hemp Seeds and Chia Seeds

Add some iron to your favorite bowls and breakfast treats. 3 tablespoons have 2.5 mg

Seedy Chocolate No Bake Granola Bars

Seedy Chocolate No Bake Granola Bars with candied ginger and gingerbread spices. These bars filled will nuts and seeds make a tasty snack. substitute nuts with more seeds to make them nut-free. Vegan Gluten-free Recipe. Easily made into protein bars. Makes 10 to 12 bars

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Tiramisu Chia Seed Pudding

Decadent Vegan Tiramisu Chia Seed Pudding! Coffee Chocolate Chia pudding layered with creamy vanilla layer topped with whipped coconut cream and cocoa powder. Glutenfree Soyfree Nutfree

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Lemon Curd Chia Pudding

Lemon Curd Chia Pudding. Easy 5 Ingredient Thick Lemon Coconut Milk Turmeric Pudding with Chia seeds. This zesty pudding is a refreshing treat for Summer. Serve with whipped coconut cream. Vegan gluten-free nut-free soy-free Recipe.

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Best Iron Rich Recipes - Vegan Richa (2024)

FAQs

What vegan foods have the most iron? ›

Great plant-based sources of iron include:
  • Dried apricots – 3.1mg/100g.
  • Tofu (firm) – 2.9mg/100g.
  • Dates (dried) – 2.6mg/100g.
  • Lentils / soybeans / kidney beans – 1.8mg-2.2mg/100g.
  • Amaranth (cooked) – 2.1mg/100g.
  • Tofu (silken / soft) – 1.8mg/100g.
  • Figs (dried) – 1.4mg/100g.
  • Baked beans – 1mg/100g.

How to get iron levels up fast vegan? ›

  1. 1 Legumes. Lentil, beans, and peas all contain iron, but some have higher amounts than others. ...
  2. 2 Soy products. Soy-based proteins like tofu and tempeh have decent amounts of iron. ...
  3. 3 Nuts and seeds. ...
  4. 4 Dark, leafy greens. ...
  5. 5 Broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. ...
  6. 6 Potatoes. ...
  7. 7 Certain mushrooms. ...
  8. 8 Tomato paste.

How do vegans treat iron deficiency? ›

Your body doesn't absorb iron from plant-based sources as readily as it does from meat, so you may need to incorporate more iron-rich foods into your daily diet. Some sources to consider are beans, such as lentils; dark leafy vegetables, including spinach; iron-fortified breads and cereals; and tofu.

Is tofu high in iron? ›

Tofu is a soy-based food that's popular among vegetarians and in some Asian countries. A half-cup (126-gram) serving provides 3.4 mg of iron, which is 19% of the DV ( 49 ). Tofu is also a good source of thiamine and several minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and selenium.

What do vegans eat for anemia? ›

Vegans can find non-heme iron in dried beans and legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, and wholegrain cereals and breads. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of the body.

Do vegans struggle with iron deficiency? ›

As the blog explains, "a vegetarian or vegan diet can make it difficult to keep your iron levels high - but contrary to popular belief, this is because of the type of iron consumed, not simply the amount."

Does avocado have iron? ›

The avocado boasts the highest iron content (1.02 mg/100 g) of any fresh fruit.

What not to eat with anemia? ›

Dairy foods and foods rich in tannin (such as coffee, tea, and chocolate) should be limited as they can interfere with the absorption of iron. American Academy of Family Physicians. Anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Which fruit has the highest iron? ›

  • Strawberries.
  • Watermelon.
  • Raisins.
  • Dates.
  • Figs.
  • Prunes.
  • Prune juice.
  • Dried apricots.

How to raise iron levels overnight? ›

If you have iron-deficiency anemia, taking iron orally or getting iron administered intravenously along with vitamin C is often the fastest way to raise your iron levels.

What are the symptoms of low iron in vegans? ›

Low iron levels can weaken your immune system, make you feel tired, and cause difficulty concentrating. They may also cause various other unpleasant symptoms including taste changes, hair loss, and headaches (2, 3).

Are chickpeas high in iron? ›

Chickpeas Are a Vegetarian-Friendly Iron Powerhouse

Chickpeas, a type of legume, provide 1.5 mg of iron per cup, per the USDA, making them an excellent source. They also deliver lean, plant-based protein — 10.7 g per cup, to be exact.

Is oatmeal high in iron? ›

Oats are already rich in iron, containing about 10% in just a half-cup serving, but that is often doubled if you're reaching for a fortified product. Other popular cereals like Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Grape-Nuts and Shredded Wheat can pack up to 90% of your daily needs in a serving.

Is peanut butter high in iron? ›

Peanut butter is rich in iron and can be used as a spread or served to children. Peanut butter contains 0.56 mg iron per tablespoon. White beans are good when it comes to iron, providing 8 mg per serving.

What food is highest in iron? ›

  • Tofu.
  • Beans (kidney, garbanzo, or white, canned)
  • Tomato products (e.g., paste)
  • Dried peas.
  • Dried beans.
  • Lentils.
  • Instant breakfast.
  • Corn syrup.

What foods raise iron quickly? ›

Foods rich in iron include:
  • Red meat, pork and poultry.
  • Seafood.
  • Beans.
  • Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach.
  • Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots.
  • Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas.
  • Peas.

Can vegans get enough iron from plants? ›

You can get all the iron you need from a well-planned vegan diet because there are lots of plant foods containing reliable sources of non-haem iron, such as leafy greens and kidney beans. More examples are provided in the infographic above.

Can vegans get too much iron? ›

Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron from foods so it's good to combine iron and vitamin C-containing foods in one meal. It's unlikely that you'd get too much iron from a vegan diet alone but if you take supplements, taking high doses (over 20 milligrams) can cause constipation, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.

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