16 Complete Protein Pairings with Cornstarch

Summary:

• Cornstarch is low in protein - about 0 grams per tbsp.
• In addition, cornstarch provides only 7 of the 9 essential amino acids sufficiently - it is a little low on lysine and tryptophan.^[1]
• Cornstarch pairs well with cauliflower, crimini mushroom, carrots, watermelon or mango to create a complete protein profile. ^[2] More cornstarch pairings and detailed analysis below.

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• Summary
• Protein
• Amino Acid Profile
• Pairings with Cornstarch (16)

A complete protein is a protein source that "contains adequate proportions of the nine essential amino acids" that our body can not produce on its own.

Relatively low in protein, a single tablespoon of cornstarch contains 0 grams of protein, or about 0% of recommended daily values. ^[1]

To get the adequate amount of protein with cornstarch alone, you will need 2404 tablespoons of cornstarch (19230 grams) for an average female, or 2885 tablespoons of cornstarch for males. ^[4] That's over 73270 calories, and a lot of cornstarch! Pairing cornstarch with a richer protein source is a good idea.

Full nutritional profile for cornstarch
USDA Source: Cornstarch

Macronutrients in 1 tbsp (8g) of cornstarch:

Proportionally, cornstarch does contain abundant amounts of 7 out of the nine essential amino acids. However, cornstarch is a little short on lysine and tryptophan.^[1]

To have adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids with cornstarch alone, you will have to eat 3563 tablespoons of cornstarch (28500 grams) for an average person. ^[2]

That's about 48% more cornstarch to compensate for the lack of lysine and tryptophan, compared to the protein requirement alone.

The amount of each essential amino acid in 1 tbsp (8g) of cornstarch:

1. Cauliflower
2. Crimini Mushroom
3. Carrots
4. Watermelon
5. Mango
6. Nutritional Yeast
7. Pumpkin Seeds
8. Hedge Mustard Seeds
9. Chia Seeds
10. Black Beans
11. Kidney Beans
12. Mung Bean

1. Sour Cream
2. Milk
3. Whipping Cream
4. Unsalted Butter

Low in protein, cauliflower is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 5.4 grams of cauliflower creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.07 to 1:0 for cornstarch to cauliflower by weight.

Full nutritional profile for cauliflower
USDA Source: Cauliflower, raw

Crimini mushroom is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.6 tablespoon of crimini mushroom (3g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.04 to 1:4 for cornstarch to crimini mushroom by weight.

Full nutritional profile for crimini mushroom
USDA Source: Mushrooms, brown, italian, or crimini, raw

Low in protein, carrot is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.1 carrot (8g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.1 to 1:10 for cornstarch to carrot by weight.

Full nutritional profile for carrots
USDA Source: Carrots, raw

Watermelon is low in protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 1.4 tablespoons of watermelon (13g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.17 to 1:0 for cornstarch to watermelon by weight.

Full nutritional profile for watermelon
USDA Source: Watermelon, raw

Low in protein, mango is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 15.8 grams of mango creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.2 to 1:0 for cornstarch to mango by weight.

Full nutritional profile for mango
USDA Source: Mangos, raw

Nutritional yeast is a great source of protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.1 teaspoon of nutritional yeast (0g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0 to 1:0 for cornstarch to nutritional yeast by weight.

Full nutritional profile for nutritional yeast
USDA Source: Leavening agents, yeast, baker's, active dry

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, pumpkin seed is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.6 teaspoon of pumpkin seeds (1g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.01 to 1:1 for cornstarch to pumpkin seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for pumpkin seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, pumpkin and squash seeds, whole, roasted, without salt

Hedge mustard seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 1.1 teaspoons of hedge mustard seeds (2g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.02 to 1:2.2 for cornstarch to hedge mustard seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for hedge mustard seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, sisymbrium sp. seeds, whole, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, chia seed is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.1 ounce of chia seeds (2g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.03 to 1:2.6 for cornstarch to chia seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for chia seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, chia seeds, dried

Black bean is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.6 teaspoon of black beans (3g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.04 to 1:0 for cornstarch to black bean by weight.

Full nutritional profile for black beans
USDA Source: Beans, black turtle, mature seeds, canned

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, kidney bean is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.7 teaspoon of kidney beans (2g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.03 to 1:0 for cornstarch to kidney bean by weight.

Full nutritional profile for kidney beans
USDA Source: Beans, kidney, red, mature seeds, canned, drained solids, rinsed in tap water

Mung bean is a great source of protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.9 ml of mung bean (1g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.01 to 1:0 for cornstarch to mung bean by weight.

Full nutritional profile for mung bean
USDA Source: Mung beans, mature seeds, raw

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, sour cream is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.7 teaspoon of sour cream (3g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.03 to 1:3 for cornstarch to sour cream by weight.

Full nutritional profile for sour cream
USDA Source: Cream, sour, cultured

Milk is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 0.7 teaspoon of milk (4g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.05 to 1:5 for cornstarch to milk by weight.

Full nutritional profile for milk
USDA Source: Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, whipping cream is high in lysine and tryptophan, which is complementary to cornstarch.

A ratio of 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 1.1 tablespoons of whipping cream (4g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.05 to 1:5 for cornstarch to whipping cream by weight.

Full nutritional profile for whipping cream
USDA Source: Cream, whipped, cream topping, pressurized

Unsalted butter is low in protein, and is high in lysine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of cornstarch.

For example, 10 tablespoons of cornstarch (80g) and 1.1 tablespoons of unsalted butter (16g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.2 to 1:20 for cornstarch to unsalted butter by weight.

Full nutritional profile for unsalted butter
USDA Source: Butter, without salt