Delish Keto Made Easy

A “diet” that not only allows bacon, but encourages it? A plan in which cheese is celebrated? Sign. Us. Up. We hopped on the low-carb train a couple years back. At first, because our readers were craving lighter options—now it’s safe to say it’s a full-blown obsession. Our ears perk up when we hear the words “fat bomb.” And each person on the team is thinking about bread substitutes at least once a day. (The moment our food editor Lena Abraham discovered cabbage made the perfect burger “bun” goes down in Delish history.) Our mission: to create amazing and healthy dishes that even carb lovers will crave. It’s something we take very seriously. When you’re flipping through these pages, know that every single recipe has been tested and devoured by…

No doubt you have at least one friend who is following the keto diet. Or maybe you’ve read about the long list of celebrities who swear by this eating approach: Halle Berry, Alicia Vikander, Mama June, Vinny Guadagnino, Kourtney Kardashian, Tim Tebow, Megan Fox, and Jenna Jameson. The whole point of going keto is to reach ketosis, a cult-y sounding name for the metabolic process that happens when your body uses fat instead of carbs for energy. And burning fat for energy can lead to major results in the weight loss department. To get there, you’ve gotta do the obvious: eat a whole lot of fat and little to no carbs. It’s restrictive, but if you hack the system just right, you can still create surprisingly delicious food—like pizza, tacos, lasagna, pancakes,…

1. Cut down on carbs Limit carbs to no more than 5 percent of your total calories. For most people, that’s 15 to 20 grams of carbs a day. Most of those should come from non-starchy, high-fiber veggies. Aim for 3 to 5 servings a day. 2. Don't forget protein Keep protein to about 15 to 30 percent of your daily calories. For most people, that’s somewhere between 15 to 40 grams and it’s an easy number to reach. Just 3-ounces of salmon or tuna gets you to 21 grams. A ½ cup of cottage cheese nets you 14. 3. Eat more fat Make sure 70 percent of your calories come from fat. Yes, it sounds like a lot, but most of this fat should be the healthy kind, like…

ALWAY S PROTEIN: Bacon Fatty fish (salmon, cod, halibut) Low-carb shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster) Poultry (dark meat) Beef Lamb Pork Bison Pasture-raised eggs DAIRY: Full-fat dairy (butter, cream, yogurt) Cheese FRUITS & VEGGIES: Leafy greens Bell peppers Bok choy Asparagus Cauliflower Broccoli rabe Celery Mushrooms Cucumbers Radishes Summer squash (zucchini, yellow) Avocado NUTS: Walnuts Pecans Pine nuts Macadamia nuts Hazelnuts GRAINS & SEEDS: Chia seeds Flaxseeds OILS & SPICES: Herbs Avocado oil Coconut oil Olive oil Salt Pepper Spices * *Most spices aren’t totally carb-free, but are OK in small amounts. CONDIMENTS: Full-fat mayonnaise (olive oil or avocado oil based) Mustard Ranch LIQUIDS: Bone broth Coffee Herbal tea Seltzer SOMETIMES* *These foods can be eaten daily in small amounts, or eaten in larger amounts less frequently. PROTEIN: Poultry (white meat) Uncured…

NUTRITION FACTS (Per Serving): 250 calories 14 g protein 5 g carbs 1 g fiber 3 g sugar 27 g fat 13 g saturated fat 890 mg sodium MOZZARELLA STICKS WITH HERB-YOGURT DIP SERVES 8 | TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 15 MIN 1 egg1 tbsp. water Kosher salt¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper⅓ cup almond flour½ c grated Parmesan6 (1-oz.) sticks mozzarella string cheese½ cup Greek yogurt1 tbsp. white vinegar½ tsp. garlic powder2 tbsp. freshly chopped dill1 tbsp. finely chopped chives2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1. Line a plate with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and water. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In a shallow dish, mix almond flour and Parmesan. Coat string cheese first in almond flour mixture, then egg, then the almond flour…

NUTRITION FACTS (Per Serving): 475 calories 35 g protein 19 g carbs 4 g fiber 9 g sugar 30 g fat  15 g saturated fat 958 mg sodium CAULIFLOWER BAKED ZITI SERVES 6 | TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 10 MIN 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil1 medium onion, chopped2 garlic cloves, minced Pinch red pepper flakes1 lb. ground beefKosher saltFreshly ground black pepper2 tbsp. tomato paste1 tsp. dried oregano1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes2 tbsp. thinly sliced basil, plus more for garnish3 cups cauliflower florets, blanched and drained well1½ c. ricotta2 c. shredded mozzarella½ c. freshly grated Parmesan 1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for one…