The "keto diet" or low carb diet, is famous for its difficulty and carb withdrawal symptoms. The ketogenic diet encourages the body to go into a state of ketosis - a process through which the body burns fat for energy - by limiting the intake of carbs and pumping the body with other fats.
Which means, yes, no pasta, no rice, and no bread. For most of us, the idea of going without bread is a lot to, erm, digest. Fortunately, if you're thinking of trying out the keto diet but you can't imagine living without bread, we've got good news. There are lots of bread substitutes out there that taste great and are great on their own or paired with sandwiches. Hint: almond flour is a must have!
Best Traditional Bread Imitation
This recipe makes 20 slices of gluten-free, fluffy, keto diet friendly almond bread.
What You'll Need
- 1.5 cups of almond flour
- 6 large eggs, separated
- 4 tablespoons of melted butter
- 3 teaspoons of aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoons of cream of tartar
- a pinch of salt
- an 8x4 loaf pan for baking
Step #1 - Preheat
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Step #2 - Whip Egg Whites
Separate the yolks of 6 large eggs from the whites. Add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar to the egg whites, and beat until soft peaks are observed.
Step #3 - Create Thick Dough
Combine egg yolks, 1/3 of beaten egg whites, 4 tablespoons of melted butter, 1.5 cups of almond flour, 3 teaspoons of baking powder, and just a bit of salt in a food processor. The result should be a lumpy dough. To reduce the potentially eggy taste, add a few drops of liquid sweetener.
Step #4 - Add Leftover Egg Whites
Incorporate the remaining 2/3 of whipped egg whites and reprocess until the mixture is consistent. (To preserve the bread's volume, do not overprocess.)
Step #5 - Bake
Transfer mixture into a buttered 8x4 baking pan. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, checking with a dry toothpick to make sure bread has cooked through.
Best Bun Substitute
Just because you can't have regular bread buns, doesn't mean you have to eat sandwiches naked! This bun substitute recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare and 50-60 minutes to bake, and by the end you'll have voluminous, low-carb buns to enjoy.
What You'll Need
- 1 1/4 cups of almond flour
- 5 tablespoons of ground psyllium husk powder
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt
- 2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 3 egg whites
Step #1 - Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Step #2 - Mix Dry Ingredients
Mix together 1 1/4 cups of almond flour, 5 tablespoons of ground psyllium husk powder, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of sea salt.
Step #3 - Boil Water
Bring water to a boil, and add 1 cup to the dry ingredients.
Step #4 - Finish Adding Ingredients
Stir in 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 3 eggs' worth of egg whites. Beat together with a hand mixer for around 30 seconds, just until the dough is thick and fluffy.
Step #5 - Shape Dough
Moisten hands and form dough into 8 smaller or 4 longer pieces of bread - for example, shape for use as hotdog or hamburger buns.
Step #6 - Bake
Bake at 350°F on your lower oven rack for 50-60 minutes, depending on bun sizes. (Buns are finished when bread can be lightly tapped and a hollow sound is heard.)
Step #7 - Cut And Serve
After cooling, slice or carve out bun shapes according to sandwich style.
Best Keto Flatbread
This gluten-free, vegetarian, keto-friendly flatbread serves 6, and only takes about 25 minutes to make. One of the great things about this recipe is its versatility - add vegetables to the dough for a more customized bread, and/or vary bake times for softer, more flexible pitas or a crispier style flatbread according to your preference.
What You'll Need
- 3/4 cup of shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon of cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons of almond flour
- 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder
- salt (to taste)
Step #1 - Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Step #2 - Melt Cheese
Melt 3/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 tablespoon of cream cheese in the microwave, in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between to combine ingredients.
Step #3 - Add Egg And Flour
After your cheese is thoroughly melted and mixed together, add in 1 egg and 2 tablespoons of almond flour.
Step #4 - Flatten And Season
Flatten out the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle 1/8 garlic powder and as much salt as you'd prefer over top.
Step #5 - Bake According To Desired Texture
Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350°F, removing sooner for a softer, more pita/tortilla style flatbread. For a crispier flatbread, flip the bread over and bake for another 5 minutes.