While on the keto diet it can be hard to fit in some of the foods that you have grown accustomed to and enjoy. One example of this is Chinese cuisine, which can be challenging to include in your weekly meals when it has many ingredients that are not so keto-friendly.
Although there are many Chinese dishes that have a high carb count, you can work around this by simply substituting some of the ingredients, sauces, and spices in the original recipe with tasty low-carb alternatives for the ultimate keto Chinese food recipe hacks.
Here are some delicious keto recipe hacks that are not only healthy but will ensure that you won’t have to give up Chinese food while on a keto diet! Additionally, learn more here about how Approved Science® Keto can help you conquer carb cravings to keep your body in ketosis for real weight-loss results.
1. Chinese Pork Belly
Pork belly is the perfect ingredient to eat when you are on a keto diet thanks to its high-fat content. There are a number of ways to enjoy this dish, with the most popular boasting a crispy layer of fat, and a variety of vegetables that pair well with it. Although most Chinese pork belly recipes call for a sugary glaze, you can easily find carb-free alternatives like Erythritol, which will still taste delicious.
2. Kung Pao Shrimp
This dish is a stir-fry with the main focus on shrimp that is accompanied by bell peppers, chili, and peanuts. It’s an amazing recipe because of how easy it is to substitute different vegetables and proteins, giving you the freedom to create something that suits your tastes. Kung Pao Shrimp is normally served with rice or noodles, however, both should be left out completely or substituted with spiralized vegetables or shirataki noodles to ensure it’s keto-friendly (1).
3. Cantonese Steamed Fish
Cantonese steamed fish is not only simple to make but uses so few ingredients that it should be a weekly staple. All you need for this recipe is a fish of your own choosing, spring onions, and ginger to enhance the flavor of the fish, and a steamer basket. There are many ways to steam your fish without a steamer basket in case you don’t have one (2). Since Cantonese steamed fish is high in protein and carb-free, it is the perfect Chinese ‘fakeaway’ dish if you are on a keto diet.
4. Egg Foo Young
The perfect low carb, high protein Chinese meal is egg foo young, which is also known as a Chinese omelet. It is usually filled with vegetables like onions, bean sprouts, and cabbage but you can use whatever keto-friendly vegetables you have on hand. If you are following a high-protein keto diet, you can also add beef, poultry, pork, or shrimp to the omelet before or after a workout.
5. Chop Suey
Chop suey is a dish in which meat, vegetables, and eggs are stir-fried together in a thick sauce. The sauce is usually thickened with cornstarch but that should be avoided when you are on a keto diet and there are alternatives to thicken your sauce (3). Chicken and pork are meats that are commonly used in this dish and it is normally served on rice or noodles which should be substituted for keto-friendly ingredients.
6. Chinese Mushroom Stir-Fry
Mushrooms are both low in carbs and calories making Chinese mushroom stir-fry the perfect keto dish. The mushroom stir fry is typically served with a savory brown sauce that is thickened with cornstarch but you can forgo the sauce completely and it won’t have an effect on the taste at all.
7. Hot and Sour Soup
This dish is a spicy and sour soup that is filled with flavor and just enough ‘bite’ to warm you up on a cold day. The base of the soup is egg and broth which is usually paired with mushrooms, vinegar, and tofu. There are a number of other ingredients you can add too like bamboo shoots or some protein like chicken or shrimp.
8. Egg Drop Soup
Egg drop soup is an easy and tasty meal to whip up at home. Much like hot and sour soup, egg drop soup is made with broth and eggs. It is normally thickened with cornstarch but you can easily use a keto-friendly alternative like xanthan gum, almond flour, or chia seeds.
Support Your Keto Lifestyle
Tweaking your recipes to a keto lifestyle doesn’t have to be a challenge but sometimes controlling those carb cravings can be. Learn how the ingredients in Approved Science® Keto help suppress appetite, fight the keto flu and boost your body into ketosis so you can look and feel your absolute best!