We present a simple and green one-step pathway towards nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures with controlled mesoporosity through hydrothermal treatment of glucose in the presence of model proteins. Performing the reaction with different amounts of egg white ovalbumin protein (OvA), carbonaceous nanoparticles or continuous nanosponges with high specific surface areas can be efficiently produced. The nitrogen content of the structures is rather high (up to 8 wt %) and can be kept constant up to 950 °C, while oxygen elimination and graphitization of the carbon material occurs. We demonstrate here that sustainable natural resources can be efficiently used in the synthesis of pure high-potential nanomaterials.