Some Low-Carb Italian Foods For You
Some Low-Carb Italian Foods For You
While many people love Italian food, it is often avoided by those trying to follow a low-carb diet. No wonder, with many meals centred around copious amounts of pasta and bread. However, if you are looking for low-carb Italian food, you can find it. Many Italian meals revolve around fresh vegetables, olive oil, and herbs, and they are just as tasty as pasta and pizza. Here’s a look at some of the Italian dishes you can try while following your special diet. Following are some low-carb Italian foods for you.
Appetizers and Appetizers
If you’re looking for low-carb Italian food, one of the first places to look is the antipasto course. Antipasto, Italian for “before a meal,” includes many appetizers, but many of these foods can be eaten; on their own. An example is a tray with Italian meats and cheeses. Many marinated and pickled vegetables are also low in carbohydrates. Stuffed tomatoes and peppers, deviled eggs, and salads work well for this type of diet. Just avoid antipasti with bread or pasta. You may also need to pay attention to sauces and salad dressings to make sure they are not too high in carbohydrates. A simple dressing made with balsamic vinegar and olive oil is low carb and delicious.
Salads
Italian salads are another great low-carb Italian food. You have to be careful to avoid pasta and bread salads, but with careful planning, you can find many delicious alternatives. You can eat an Italian salad as its own meal or as a side dish. For a unique flavour, consider the Sicilian Orange and Fennel Salad.
Roasted peppers and olives are also great additions, as are many of the Italian cheeses. Even ordinary vegetables can be made into spectacular dishes when combined with Italian herbs and seasonings. You can easily create your own low-carb meal by serving a large number of vegetables with some fried or grilled fish.
Soup and stew
Italian soups and stews are often hearty enough to eat on their own or served with a fresh salad. For low-carb Italian food, look for soups filled with fresh vegetables and avoid pasta-filled soups. Broccoli soup is a good choice, as is tomato basil soup. For protein, you can often find soups with seafood and other meats, some unusual like; rabbit. Beans, chickpeas, and lentils can also be good sources of protein, but if you’re on a very low-carb diet, you’ll also want to avoid those.
Frittatas
If you’re looking for a substitute for bread and/or a way to use up last night’s vegetables, frittatas are the way to go. Frittatas are an Italian version of the omelette and are often cut into wedges for serving. They can be flavoured with any number of ingredients, including vegetables, herbs, and salami or chicken.
Dessert
If you’re looking for low-carb Italian food, there’s no reason to skip dessert at the west end restaurant! Fruit is a common choice, either baked or served fresh in a salad. The popular ice cream is another low-carb dessert that you can enjoy. You’ll find that many Italian desserts are naturally low-carb or can be adapted to your new diet.
Featured photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash
