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Make protein powder at home with just one ingredient and 15 minutes. It’s naturally vegan, allergen friendly, and great to add to smoothies, baked goods, and sauces. You can even customize it with additional flavors.

Did you know you can make your own protein powder at home? It’s actually a really simple process that I only just recently discovered when I had a bag of peas I needed to use up before my move and someone recommended me this video from Comer Vegano. I never realized how simple it can be. In this article I’ll show you just how easy it is and how to use it in a variety of ways.

I don’t normally consume protein powders because I don’t find them all that necessary for the price, but now that I know how to make my own at home, I think I’ll be enjoying them a lot more.

As a vegan, one might think that it is difficult to get enough protein through diet without supplementing. The truth is that protein is not that difficult to acquire if certain criteria are met. If you are eating a mostly whole foods plant-based diet and consuming enough calories for your energy and activity requirements, then it’s virtually impossible to not get enough protein unless there’s an underlying health condition.

Our protein requirements are not as much as the protein supplement companies would have us believe. In fact, the Recommended Dietary Intake of protein for an average adult is .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight or 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.

That’s around 50 grams of protein per day for the average sedentary person. It may not seem like much but that’s two standard deviations above the minimum to prevent protein deficiency. So don’t worry, you won’t be withering away.

If you are more active and do weight lifting or endurance exercise you may need more protein. Some suggest increasing it to .65 grams of protein per pound of body weight. Either way, the rule above regarding eating enough on a whole foods plant-based diet should cover your protein needs.

However, from time to time we run short on time and need something to keep us full in between meals. We also may have physique goals that require higher protein intakes. That’s when protein powders can be beneficial.

You can actually make your own DIY protein powder out of several things: nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, etc. But today I’m going to show you how to make it out of peas.

Health Benefits of Peas

Peas are a lesser known source of protein but it’s becoming more popular as more and more pea protein products and supplements are coming to the market. Peas are a great option for many because they are allergen friendly and easy to digest.

One cup of cooked split peas contains over 16 grams of protein. It’s also high in minerals such as Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Phosphorus, and Copper. It’s high in folate, the natural form of folic acid, and contains several B vitamins.

Peas also contain over 20 grams of fiber in one cup! Most Americans do not even get that much in one day even though the Daily Recommended Intake of Fiber on average is around 30 grams. Higher fiber intake can help lower cholesterol and is beneficial in managing blood-sugar.

And contrary to popular belief, there’s no such thing as an incomplete protein. All plants contain all nine essential amino acids. The term “incomplete protein” really just means that one or more of the essential amino acids are present in limited amounts. For peas, that is Methionine but this should not be a concern as long as you are diversifying your protein sources through out the day. Check out this article for the top plant-based sources of protein for a balanced vegan diet.

Antinutrients in Peas

A concern when it comes to consuming legumes are the presence of antinutrients. These are essentially compounds that block the absorption of other nutrients.

The main antinutrients found in peas are phytic acid and lectins which may interfere with the absorption of minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. These can also affect digestion and cause bloating.

Levels of antinutrients are lower in peas than other legumes so for the average healthy person, they are not a concern. They are unlikely to cause problems unless eaten in large quantities.

In the case of pea protein powder, the quantity is small enough to not cause issues but if you notice any discomfort with digestion you can start with a smaller amount. Two tablespoons per serving is a good starting point.

Best Type of Peas for Protein Powder

There are several different types of peas to make protein powder with but today we’ll be making it with dry split peas. I’ve seen it made by using green peas, yellow peas, or even frozen peas, but these require an extra step of dehydrating.

Split peas, also known as field peas, are already dry which makes the process a lot faster. Field peas are dried with the outer shell removed, revealing the two halves. Dried peas will keep for several months if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place such as a pantry. If you need to store them for longer, you can keep them in the refrigerator.

These are the same type of peas used to make commercial protein powders, however, they typically extract the starches and fiber, leaving a higher concentrated protein powder.

Our homemade version will not have as high amount of protein per scoop, but has the added benefit of additional fiber and nutrients that would otherwise have been removed.

How Much Protein is in Pea Protein Powder?

One cup of dry split peas has around 45 grams of protein. When processed into a fine powder, it makes just over one cup of protein powder.

Most commercial brand serving sizes are equivalent to 1/4 cup and contain around 20 grams of protein.

Based on this example, one serving of our homemade pea protein powder contains just over 11 grams of protein.

What you need

To make your own pea protein powder you will need a few things:

How to Make

The process I’m going to show you is essentially making a pea flour because we are not extracting anything. We are simply processing the peas into a flour.

This process is the simplest because there is no need to presoak, sprout, or cook. In fact, you can eat raw split peas. That’s why we can make a DIY protein powder that can be used in smoothies and other raw foods like energy balls. One word of caution: You cannot do this with all legumes, especially kidney beans, as they can make you sick if not cooked first.

Here’s the easy process:

1. Place peas in your blender or food processor. I use a Ninja blender but any high-speed blender or food processor will do. Make sure whatever appliance you use is completely dry. You do not want any moisture in it or you will end up with a paste instead of a flour.

2. Blend for around 3 minutes. Make sure any openings are covered while it’s running so you don’t have pea flour wafting out of it.

3. Sift the processed peas over a bowl to separate the powder from any of the larger pieces.

4. Reprocess the larger pieces in your blender for another 3 minutes and repeat step 3.

5. You now have pea protein powder!

Any leftover larger pieces can be ground using a coffee or spice grinder, or throw into a soup or stew so they don’t go to waste. They’re so small that they should cook quickly.

How to Store

To keep your homemade pea protein powder fresh for as long as possible, you’ll want to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last in there at least one week but you can also freeze for longer. No need to thaw, it should stay as a powder when frozen.

How to Use

You can use pea protein powder in a number of things. Adding it to smoothies is perfect because it bulks up the smoothie, making it more filling and satiating. Usually 2-4 tablespoons is a good quantity to add to smoothies depending on your protein needs and taste preferences.

You can also use it in baked goods. Replace a little of the flour with pea protein. You can do the same with things like pancakes or waffles as well.

It can also be added to soups or sauces as a thickener.

Or add it to these No Bake Granola Bars or a bowl of oatmeal for some extra protein.

Why Not Just Buy Store-Bought Protein Powder?

You certainly can but it comes at a cost. First, it’s more expensive. You’ll be spending upwards of $20 per bag (I’ve even seen some for as much as $60) which might not even last you two weeks.

Making it at home can take less than $2 and just 15 minutes of your time. Additionally, most store-bought versions are going to have added sugars and natural flavors which are proprietary ingredients that are not necessarily natural at all.

I like knowing exactly what is in my food, so I like that making my own protein powder gives me the control of what goes into it. I can even customize it to my own preferences by adding different add-ins to flavor it.

Customizations

There are several ways to up the protein content even more or add some flavor to your protein powder. Although we can add flavors, I still find it best to blend into a smoothie rather than mix directly into water or plant milk.

Extra protein

Flavors

Let us know if you make this protein what your favorite custom combinations are!

Preview of the protein guide

Here’s my favorite:

  • 1/3 cup pea protein powder
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Add 4 Tablespoons of it to a smoothie with 1 cup frozen cherries, 1 banana, and 1 cup water or plant milk. It’s like a chocolate cherry black forest smoothie! Add more cocoa powder to make it even more chocolatey.

If you enjoyed this tutorial for making your own vegan protein powder please leave a comment below and give it 5 stars! Or on Pinterest (don’t forget to follow me!) you can now add pictures into reviews, too, and be sure to help me share on facebook!

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DIY Pea Protein Powder

4.82 from 93 votes
Author: Rachel
Make protein powder at home with just one ingredient and 15 minutes. It's naturally vegan, allergen friendly, and great to add to smoothies, baked goods, and sauces. You can even customize it with additional flavors if desired.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Method

  • Blender

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 cup split peas dry, uncooked

Instructions 

  • Place peas in a blender or food processor. I use a Ninja blender but any high-speed blender or food processor will do. Make sure whatever appliance you use is completely dry. You do not want any moisture in it or you will end up with a paste instead of a flour. Blend for around 3 minutes. Make sure any openings are covered while it's running so you don't have pea flour wafting out of it.
  • Sift the processed peas over a bowl with a sieve or mesh strainer to separate the powder from any of the larger pieces. Reprocess the large pieces in your blender or food processor for another 3 minutes and sift again.
  • Any leftover larger pieces can be ground using a coffee or spice grinder, or throw into a soup or stew so they don't go to waste. They're so small that they should cook quickly.
  • Store pea protein powder in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for longer. See above article for how to add additional protein and flavor options to the powder.

Notes

You can customize it by adding additional protein and flavor options. See the above article for suggestions and measurements, plus an example and how I used it in a smoothie.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
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Recipe Rating




134 Comments

  1. With a vital mix I just add the spilt peas to my smoothie and it blends it perficly. No need to make into flour first. However, thanks for the recipe , I will use it when traveling and my blender is at home.
    Grandma

  2. Can I use fresh peas? I’ve notice that the pease you’ve use are dried. And where I live just can find fres peas

    1. The fresh peas can be used if you dehydrate them first before grinding them into a powder. Or you can add them directly to a smoothie. I often add frozen or canned peas/beans to smoothies. It provides extra protein, making the smoothie more filling.

  3. Just curious, many store-bought (100%) pea protein powders are 20 grams of protein per scoop (usually around 30 mls). According to the nutrition list in this recipe, I’d have to use 1/2 cup of this homemade pea protein powder to get the same amount of protein. What am I missing/What is the difference? Are store-bought powders only using a certain part of the pea?

    1. Hi Adina,
      This is the whole split pea with all the fiber as well so for the same serving size it is less protein. To extract just the protein at home would require more equipment, time and money—this is meant to just be a simple alternative. I do not recommend using more the 1/4 cup at a time. For more info check out the full post above the recipe card which goes into greater detail 🙂

  4. I was searching for vegan protein powders (not recipes though) but I saw this one, was intrigued and clicked on it. I believe this recipe is dangerous because it says that you can eat the split peas raw – that’s false. You shouldn’t add this powder to smoothies and anything that wont be cooked for at least few mins.

    Split peas are actually green peas that are dried and split.

    Like other dried legumes, you shouldn’t eat them raw or undercooked though. They contain lectin which when not broken down by proper cooking can lead to gastrointestinal distress from bloating and gas to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as well as lead to evere gastrointestinal diseases like gastroenteritis.

    1. Hi Natalia, the part of your comment regarding lectins appears to be copied from a Reddit thread on the topic. Here’s more information about lectins from a reputable source such as the Mayo Clinic:

      “Lectins are naturally occurring proteins that are found in most plants. Some foods that contain higher amounts of lectins include beans, peanuts, lentils, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, fruits, and wheat and other grains. Some research seems to indicate that taking in large quantities of raw lectins could have negative health effects. The amount you’d need to consume each day to get to that level, however, is much higher than a typical diet would include.” Source: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-what-are-dietary-lectins-and-should-you-avoid-eating-them/

      Split peas only contain a small amount of lectins compared to other legumes so for the average healthy person, they are not a concern unless eaten in large quantities. Source: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/anti-nutrients/lectins/

      This is why I do not recommend consuming more than one serving a day of this homemade protein powder. Hope that helps!

  5. Hi! I really want to try this out but I’m wondering – is it possible to wash the peas before blending? Often peas/beans I buy from the store need to be washed before use.

      1. Split peas do not need to be cooked if consumed in small amounts such as one serving of this protein powder. It does have a slight pea taste so I recommend adding it to smoothies with fruit to help hide the flavor.

      1. 5 stars
        Love this! So economical, so tasty and great addition options. Thank you for bringing this here

  6. Hi Rachel,

    Thank you for the recipe to make homemade pea protein powder. I made the powder with dried green split peas and found it to have a very strong and a little bitter flavor. Today I made it with yellow dried split peas and the flavor is less strong and or bitter. Love to use this homemade pea protein powder to make my post workout shake. I use 3/4 cup of plain almond milk, two scoops of the pea protein, 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder, a teaspoon of coconut flour, 1 teaspoon hemp seeds, 1 teaspoon of instant coffee, a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon. Then I add about 5 frozen blueberries and a half of a frozen banana along with a tablespoon of natural peanut butter. I blend the mixture and end up with a very creamy high protein shake that is absolutely delicious and filling.

    Can you please tell me how long I can keep the pea protein in a air tight container in the freezer?

    Thank you again for the recipe.

    Patty

    1. Hi Patty,

      So glad you’re enjoying it! Your smoothie sounds delicious! You can keep it in an airtight container in the freezer for several months. Enjoy!

  7. I am looking for homemade protein powder that’s also low in carbs and is diabetic friendly. Any suggestions? This recipe for pea protein powder has too many carbs for me. I’m a diabetic and I’m on a low carb diet as to avoid taking medication

  8. I’m very excited to try this! Yes our protein powder costs around $54. I make my WFPB foods from scratch so one more thing won’t be a problem! And, we can have different flavorings Thanks!!!

  9. “The term “incomplete protein” really just means that one or more of the essential amino acids are present in limited amounts.”
    I love researching nutrition and I’ve read many different opinions on plant protein. Where did you get your source? Or how should i find it?

    1. Hi I’m wondering what I could add to extend the shelf life as I spend a lot of time in parts of the world without electricity so no freezers or blenders. If I could make batches and seal them wonder is there a more natural preservative

      1. Do you have a vacuum sealer? You could make smaller batches and seal them with that to extend shelf life. Salt is a natural preservative but you probably don’t want salty protein smoothies. If you can remove as much air as possible to reduce oxidation and store in cool, dry place, that should definitely help!

  10. I was just getting ready to buy some protein powder on Amazon when I thought about making my own. Your article was very useful for making the powder. Besides this, you provided alternative sources of protein that could be added.

    1. I really wish there was a way to make the powder without the starches and fiber bc the whole point for me is that I want concentrated protein for the calories and fullness (meaning more protein before I’m full). I’m a distance runner and strength train regularly — I don’t get enough protein from plants if I eat until I’m full — a variety of whole plant foods. But this is good to know in a pinch.

  11. 5 stars
    Thank you for sharing! This is great but yes high carbohydrate but also high fiber. so do you know how to make it 0 carbs? like, isolate pea protein? what equipment do we need and what’s the process?

    1. Happy to share! Unfortunately I haven’t tried isolating the pea protein as it is much more involved. This is just a simple way to add more protein to smoothies 🙂