A lot of people are in the way of thinking that diet foods are not as nice or cannot be as nice as what we call regular food. This is a common thought that is just not the case. Even foods associated with diets such as the keto or ketogenic diet can be a pleasent suprise when prepared correctly. Here are some simple recipes to try and see what you think.
Whether you are just curious about a keto diet or an expert, feel inspired for your next meal with a fantastic variety of recipes.
What is a keto diet?
The ketogenic diet, is more commonly referred to as ‘Keto’ diet is very basically a very low carbohydrate and high fat diet. The aim of the diet is get your body into a state called ketosis, where your body uses fats instead of carbohydrates as fuel. To achieve this, it is generally advised that your carbohydrate intake be kept to less than 50g per day, while filling up on fats.
See below for some simple recipes that follow the Keto diet.
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Cauliflower crust pizza
Cauliflower works well as an alternative to flour for the purpose of the diet. It also creates a lighter pizza base. The Parmesan cheese gives the cauliflower base a very deep flavor. This recipe can be personalized with your own variety of toppings.
Ingredients
- 1/2 a cauliflower, broken into florets
- 1 egg, beaten
- 50g Parmesan
- Olive oil spray
- 1/2 clove of garlic
- Pinch of chili flake (this part is optional)
- 250ml passata
- Handful of basil, torn
- 1/2 ball of light mozzarella, cut into thin slices
- A handful of rocket leaves (or baby kale)
Method
Step 1
Heat your oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cook the cauliflower in boiling salted water for approximately 4 minutes and then drain well. Once the cauliflower has cooled, pat it down with kitchen towel to dry completely. Blitz the cauliflower until it looks like a cous cous. Empty it into a bowl and stir in the egg and the Parmesan. Mix it until it all comes together. Spread the mixture onto a lined baking sheet, sprayed with the olive oil spray. Press into a pizza base shape using a spatula. Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes until it is golden and firm to touch.
Step 2
While the base is in the oven, fry the garlic and the chili in some olive oil for about a minute before adding the passata. Simmer in the pan until the mixture becomes thick and spreadable. Add the basil and season to personal specification. Spread the tomato sauce mix over the base and then add the sliced mozzarella. Put the pizza back in the oven for about 10 minutes until the cheese has turned a golden color. Once removed from the oven, scatter with the rocket (or baby kale).
Baked avocado with salmon and egg
Avocados are very versatile. Try them with some smoked salmon and egg. This can be a very quick and healthy lunch. You can serve this with a side of lemon and mint courgettes instead of using bread. This is to keep this particular dish Keto friendly.
Ingredients
- 3 large avocado
- 6 small eggs, yolks separated
- 3 slices of smoked salmon
- 1 tbsp chives, finely chopped
Method
Heat your oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut the avocados into halves, length ways and remove the stones. Remove a small piece on the skin side of the avocado to stop them rolling around, and place them on baking tray. Scoop out some of the avocado from where the stone used to be, add a little of the salmon and then the egg yolks to each of the halves. Beat the egg whites until you get a uniform consistency, and pour in as much as you can fit. Grind some black pepper onto the avocados and bake for approximately 10 minutes, until the egg whites have set. Scatter the chives over the avocados and possible some cayenne, if you like. This meal can be served with some rye soldiers for dipping if you want to make it more filling.
Wedge salad with blue cheese dressing
Make the most of little gem lettuces in this healthy gluten free salad. This salad is amazing when served with a crispy skinned baked potato.
Ingredients
- 4 Little gem lettuces
- 100ml of natural yogurt
- 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp of cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp of garlic granules
- 100g of blue cheese
- A handful of chives, finely chopped
- 4 rashers of streaky bacon
Method
Step 1
Cut the gem lettuces into quarters length way and place them onto a platter. Then, in a bowl, whisk together the natural yogurt, olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic granules and add some seasoning for extra flavor if you would like. Crumble the blue cheese and some of the chives into the mixture. If, the mixture is too thick to drizzle then add a splash of water too thin it out.
Step 2
Place the bacon under the grill until it goes really crispy, then chop into small pieces. Drizzle the dressing over the gem lettuce and then top with the bacon crumb and some more chives.
Sriracha and lime salmon with avocado cream
This recipe for sriracha and lime salmon whit avocado cream is a meal that is high in protein, low calorie and gluten free. It is also a very quick meal to prepare and ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sriracha
- 2 limes, 1 cut into wedges and 1 juiced
- 2 fillets of salmon approximately 100g each
- 2 carrots peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 2 spring onions sliced
- 1/2 cucumber, seeded and cut into matchsticks
Avocado cream
- 2 tbsp fat free yogurt
- 1/4 avocado, stoned, peeled, and chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped coriander
Method
Step 1
Blitz all the ingredients for the cream in a blender with a pinch of salt. Add 1 tbsp of water if the mixture doesn’t blend smooth, and blitz again.
Step 2
Heat the grill to high. Mix the sriracha and lime juice and brush over the salmon. Cook under the grill for about 4 minutes until cooked.
Step 3
Mix the carrot, cucumber and spring onion. Add a pinch of salt, and squeeze over a few of the lime wedges. Divide between 2 plates, and top with the salmon, avocado cream and a couple more of the lime wedges.
Conclusion
These are some quick and easy food ideas to help you on your Keto diet journey. The aim of the Keto diet is to enable you to lose weight. Weight loss is helped by also following and exercise routine that works for you. I would hope that these simple recipes will inspire you to stick to your diet and help you to develope it. It is here to show you that being on a diet doesn’t mean then end of eating good food. Please feel free to leave a comment.