Keto Levantine foods

keto Levantine foods: low-carb delights from the eastern mediterranean

The Levant, a region encompassing parts of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, boasts a rich culinary tradition characterized by fresh ingredients, aromatic spices, and a variety of dishes. Many of these foods are inherently keto-friendly, while others can be adapted to the ketogenic diet's principles:

Lebanon

• Keto tabouleh (adapted):

Traditionally made with bulgur wheat, parsley, mint, tomatoes, onions, and lemon juice. A keto version can be made using finely chopped cauliflower or hemp seeds in place of bulgur.

• Kibbeh bi saniyyeh (adapted):

A dish made of a layer of minced meat and onions, covered by a layer of kibbeh dough. For keto, replace the bulgur in the dough with almond flour or coconut flour.

Syria

• Muhammara

A spicy pepper dip made of roasted red peppers, walnuts, breadcrumbs, and pomegranate molasses. Use almond flour instead of breadcrumbs for a keto-friendly version.

• Keto shawarma (adapted):

Grilled, marinated meat (often lamb, chicken, or beef). Skip the traditional wrap and serve on a salad or with keto-friendly flatbread.

Jordan

• Mansaf (adapted):

A traditional dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice. To adapt for keto, serve the lamb over cauliflower rice.

• Zarb

Bedouin-style barbecue, where meats are slow-cooked in an underground sand oven. The meats in this preparation are inherently keto-friendly.

Palestine

• Musakhan:

Roasted chicken baked with onions, sumac, allspice, and saffron, traditionally served over taboon bread. For keto, enjoy the chicken and spices without the bread.

• Keto falafel (adapted):

Traditional falafel is made of chickpeas. For a keto version, use almond flour, parsley, cilantro, and spices, then deep fry in olive oil or avocado oil.

Israel

• Shakshuka

Eggs poached in a spicy tomato, chili pepper, and onion sauce. It's naturally low in carbs and perfectly suited to a keto diet.

• Keto sabich (adapted):

A sandwich traditionally made with fried eggplant, hard-boiled eggs, tahini, and salad. Serve these components as a salad bowl without the pita for a keto-friendly meal.