Admittedly, most low-carb substitutes just don’t leave you feeling satisfied. Oftentimes, you’ll crave the real thing even more. Who said that a low-carb diet and healthy, balanced eating is a prison sentence? Once you know how to pair your food, then eating can be as colorful again. Get your pen and paper ready, as we’re bringing you eight low-carb alternatives that fill the gap and genuinely satisfy.
8. Coconut Flour Pancakes for Regular Pancakes
Yes, coconut flour creates fluffy and cake-like pancakes just like regular flour. Unlike almond flour, which is dense, coconut flour can absorb liquid and create an airy texture. The high fiber and fat content keep you feeling full for hours. Just use a ratio of 1:6 with coconut flour and add vanilla extract. After, let the batter sit for about five minutes before hitting the pan. In total, that’s 6 grams of net carbs per serving compared to 30 grams in regular pancakes
7. Eggplant Lasagna for Traditional Lasagna
Lasagna may be one of the best foods ever for many of us. But there’s no denying that the pasta sheets meant carbs on carbs, so we avoid them altogether. With eggplant lasagna, the eggplant becomes the pasta. Just slice them exactly like pasta sheets (1/4 inch thick), salt, and drain for about 30 minutes. After, brush the eggplant sheets with olive oil and pre-bake for 15 minutes to prevent sogginess. That’s only 6 grams of carbs per serving compared to 30 grams in regular lasagna.
6. Jicama Fries for French Fries
Jicama features a crisp and sweet texture that’s better when roasted. Swap your French Fries for jicama while providing fiber. Just peel and cut the jicama into fry shapes and toss them in avocado oil and seasoning. After, roast them at 425°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through. That’s already 5 grams of carbs per cup compared to 30 grams in potato fries.
5. Avocado Chocolate Mousse for Regular Chocolate Mousse
Who knew ripe avocados could sub for your regular chocolate mousse variant? If you’re craving a chocolate mousse, here’s a better alternative that’s low-carb. Just blend ripe avocados with unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla, and your preferred low-carb sweetener. After, chill the treat for at least 2 hours. It only stands for 8 grams of carbs per serving compared to 25 grams in traditional mousse.
4. Zucchini Chips for Potato Chips
When properly prepared, zucchini chips deliver the same craving that you can get from potato chips. Just slice your zucchini into paper-thin slices, salt heavily, and let them drain for 30 minutes. After, pat them dry and bake at 225°F for 2-3 hours until crispy. You’re consuming 4 grams of carbs per cup compared to 15 grams in regular potato chips.
3. Cauliflower Mash for Mashed Potatoes
We’re not over the cauliflower sub trend, as they can also sub your mashed potatoes when done properly. Just steam cauliflower florets until very tender, then mash with cream cheese, butter, and roasted garlic to get the same consistency. That’s only 5 grams of carbs per cup compared to 35 grams of mashed potatoes.
2. Lettuce Wraps for Tortillas (But Done Right)
The key to the perfect lettuce tortilla wrap is choosing fillings with enough fat and protein to compensate for the missing carbs. At 1 gram of carbs per large leaf compared to 15 grams in a flour tortilla, you can eat multiple wraps guilt-free. Just choose large, intact leaves and pat them completely dry before filling with well-seasoned ingredients or even Korean BBQ.
1. Cauliflower Rice for Regular Rice
Another cauliflower sub coming through. This vegetable proves that it’s versatile based on the low-carb dishes you can recreate. To sub it to rice, just pulse raw cauliflower in a food processor until it resembles rice grains. After, sauté them for just 3-4 minutes with butter or coconut oil and generous seasoning for flavor. You’re only consuming 5 grams of carbs per cup compared to 45 grams with white rice.