Feeling restricted in your keto options? Eating keto doesn’t have to be boring; with the right recipes, it can even be delicious. In this blog post, we will share some of our favourite sweet and savoury keto-friendly recipes that satisfy your craving. We will also discuss a natural sweetener, flavoured stevia drops, that can help replace sugar while on keto. These zero-calorie flavour drops are the perfect way not just to replace but even improve on sugar.
What is the Keto Diet, and How Does It Help?
The ketogenic diet, or keto diet for short, is a high-fat, low-carb diet with the main idea being to shift your body from burning glucose for energy to burning fat for energy. This process is known as ketosis.
When we eat a diet high in carbohydrates, our bodies break down those carbs into glucose, which is then used for energy. However, when we drastically reduce our carbohydrate intake, our bodies start to look for alternative sources of fuel. In the absence of glucose, our bodies turn to fat for energy. This process results in the production of ketones, which can be used by the body as an alternative source of fuel.
The keto diet may offer a number of possible health advantages, such as weight loss, increased insulin sensitivity, and a decreased chance of developing a number of chronic diseases. The ketogenic diet may increase insulin sensitivity by reducing carbohydrate intake while boosting fat consumption. This can be especially beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
In addition, the keto diet has been shown to be effective for weight loss. By limiting carbohydrate intake and increasing fat intake, the body is forced to burn fat for energy, which can lead to a reduction in body weight and body fat.
Finally, the keto diet may also have potential benefits for individuals with certain chronic diseases, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and certain types of cancer, though more research is needed in that area.
Stevia – A Natural Keto-Friendly Sweetener
One needs to drop carbs to a very low amount to follow the keto diet. Sugar needs to be dropped altogether as it is entirely carbohydrates. Finding flavoured stevia drops in the UK can help you a long way in following the keto diet, as zero-calorie flavoured drops can not only help with a keto diet but also with fat loss.
Stevia is a natural sweetener that has become increasingly popular in recent years as a keto-friendly alternative to sugar. Stevia is derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, native to Brazil and Paraguay, and is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, but has zero calories and does not raise blood sugar levels.
It can be pretty boring to give up sweet food during keto, and using artificial sweeteners can be daunting. Stevia is a wonderful solution to this problem.
Stevia is a natural sweetener that has become increasingly popular in recent years as a keto-friendly alternative to sugar. Stevia is derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant and is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, but it has zero calories and does not raise blood sugar levels or insulin secretion in the body.
Stevia drops are an extremely easy and quick way to add sweetness to your morning coffee, tea, or smoothie. You can also use flavoured stevia drops to enhance the flavour and sweetness of baked goods and other foods.
Essential Keto Recipes to Learn
Almond-Flour Lemon Zest Cookies- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 small egg
- 3 tablespoons ghee or butter
- Stevia
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 g baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For this recipe, you need to preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix until combined. Now, scoop out small balls of dough and spread them evenly on the baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until you see the edges turn slightly golden.
Remove from the oven and allow the cooking to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack, where they will cool completely.
Keto-Friendly Cheesecake
For the crust:
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated stevia or stevia-flavoured drops
For the filling :
- 24 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated stevia or stevia-flavoured drops
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
For this recipe as well, you need to preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Take a mixing bowl and combine the almond flour, melted butter, and stevia. Press this mixture to the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan that is lined with parchment paper.
Prepare the filling after this stop. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add flavoured stevia drops of your choice or stevia and vanilla extract and continue to beat until thoroughly combined. Add some eggs, one at a time, and beat until the mixture is smooth before adding another.
Pour the filling onto the crust and even everything out with a spatula.
Insert the tray into the oven and back for 45-50 minutes or until the cheesecake is set. Let the cheesecake cool down for at least 2 hours before serving.
Keto Pizza
For the crust :
- 1 head cauliflower, riced
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
For the toppings :
- 1/2 cup low-carb tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced pepperoni
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
Combine all the material for the crust in a mixing bowl and spread it onto the pizza stone or a lined baking sheet. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Bake the crust until it starts to turn golden. Then, remove from the oven and add the tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and olives. Now is the time to alter the toppings as per your choice – remember to calculate carbohydrates and avoid toppings that may push you out of ketosis. Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove and let the pizza cool off a little bit to avoid burning your tongue.
Salmon Wasabi Burgers
- In a food processor, pulse 1 lb fresh salmon fillet, skin removed, until coarsely ground.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and add 1/4 cup chopped scallions, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp wasabi paste, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix together and shape into 4 patties.
- Cook over medium-high heat for 4-5 mins per side in a non-stick skillet.
- Serve on buns with optional toppings.
Coconut Cookies
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, add 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/4 cup granulated stevia sweetener, and 1 tsp vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy. Add 1 large egg and mix well. Now is also the time to add your favourite flavour of Stevia drops.
Add 1 ½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut and mix until well combined. Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12-15 mins or until lightly golden.
Keto Berry Brownie
- 1/2 cup almond flour,
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder,
- 1/2 tsp baking powder,
- and 1/4 tsp salt
Mix these ingredients in one large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix melted unsalted butter and flavoured stevia drops. Add 1 large egg to the latter and whisk.
Now, mix the dry and wet mixtures, avoiding overmixing. Fold in your mixture of favourite berries gently.
Pour batter into a greased 8x8 inch baking pan and bake at 180°C for 20-25 mins.
Keto Chicken Pot Pie
Who doesn’t love a chicken pot pie? So what goes in the filling of this recipe?
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- Keto veggies of your choice, including onions, carrots, celery, and peas
- Cream cheese
- Heavy cream
- Herbs of your choice
Saute the veggies in a skillet with butter. You can make a sauce using chicken broth and heavy cream. The chicken is added next, and then the pan is removed from the heat. Add the cream cheese in the end, alongwith herbs of your choice.
The pie crust dough is made with the help of mozzarella cheese, almond flour, egg, baking powder, and salt. The cheese is melted and added to the other ingredients in a food processor. You can roll out this dough and put your filling before baking it at 190 degrees Celsius for 20-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and evenly cooked. Let the finished product rest well before serving.
Cheese-Shell Tacos
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Pinch of salt
Preheat a pan on medium-high heat. Sprinkle cheese in a thin and even circular layer. When it starts to bubble, and the edges start to turn golden brown, you can use a spatula to lift the cheese circle. Drape it over your wooden spoon or rolling pin to give it the taco shell shape.
Hold for a few seconds before placing it on a paper towel to cool. Make as many as you desire and fill them with your favourite keto toppings! Ours include lean ground beef, sour cream, lettuce, and seasoning.
To Sum Up
Eating keto can be challenging, but with these eight recipes and a wide option of flavoured stevia drops, you will surely have plenty of options to keep you satisfied and on track. After all, a tasty diet is a sustainable one!