Savory Protein Snacks: 3 Recipes You Won't Be Able to Resist

Bissli-style yuba, crispy chickpeas, and lentil flour crackers

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This summer, is there anything better than staying home with the AC on and a Netflix show queued up? I don't think so.

I love sprawling on the couch, pouring myself something cold and fizzy, and digging into savory protein snacks I just made myself.

Making my own snacks has plenty of perks: I control the fat, saturated fat, and salt, and I get to decide exactly which ingredients go in.

I like making snacks with a higher proportion of protein than the salty snacks you'll usually find at the grocery store.

Like these:

• Red lentil flour crackers with za'atar
• Crispy yuba (tofu skin), inspired by Bissli (an Israeli crunchy snack)
• And crispy, spicy chickpeas.

Now picture it: a big bowl of these savory protein snacks, a cold beer, the AC blasting, and Netflix.

Pretty perfect, right?

These protein snacks are fun to make and best enjoyed soon afterward, but they'll also keep for a few days in an airtight container. Just don't put them in the fridge—they'll lose their crunch.

A few tips for savory protein snacks

Seasoning: I used dry spices like cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, and za'atar. Don't like one of them? Swap it for something you love.

I skipped crushed garlic because it can burn in the oven and leave an unpleasant, bitter flavor. If you have garlic powder, that's a good alternative.

For crunch and flavor, I used good-quality olive oil. Don't worry—it can handle the oven temperatures used here without burning.

You can't make a salty snack without a generous helping of….salt. Okay, I actually used just a little coarse salt. Want to cut back or leave it out? Go for it!

Here's the nutrition breakdown for each snack:

Crispy chickpeas

One serving (of 2), weighing 200 g (7 oz), contains:

• 380 calories
• 16 g protein
• 48 g carbohydrates
• 14 g fat (including 2 g saturated fat)

Bissli-style yuba

One serving (of 2), weighing 60 g (2.1 oz), contains:

• 226 calories
• 33 g protein
• 1 g carbohydrates
• 10 g fat

Red lentil flour crackers with za'atar

One serving (of 2), weighing 90 g (3.2 oz), contains:

• 275 calories
• 22 g protein
• 22 g carbohydrates
• 11 g fat (including 1 g saturated fat)

Want another yuba recipe? Click here

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Lentil Flour Crackers with Za'atar

Prep time 3 minutes

Cook time 15 minutes

Yield 2 servings

Calories 275 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup lentil flour 150 g (5.3 oz)
• 1 teaspoon za'atar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

2. Add the lentil flour and dry seasonings (za'atar, paprika, and salt) to a deep mixing bowl.

3. Mix well.

4. Add the olive oil and 1 cup of water, and stir.

5. Keep stirring until the batter is smooth.

6. If a few lumps remain, set the batter aside for 5–10 minutes to let them absorb the liquid.

7. Spread the batter evenly on a baking sheet.

8. Sprinkle a little za'atar over the top.

9. Bake for about 15 minutes.

10. After 15 minutes, cut the baked outer edges into squares. Bake the center, which will still be moist, for another 10–15 minutes, until cooked through and crisp.

11. Cut into squares.

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