So as you've probably figured out by now, almonds figure heavily in keto food. They have a low glycemic index, can be converted into a sort of flour (that does admittedly need some chemical help to behave like wheat flour), and are a simple treat unto themselves (although I'd still probably rather have some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, given a choice).
In that vein, I have just discovered almond butter, the keto answer to peanut butter, and damn is it good. Finally—something keto I can rave about. If I'm honest, almond butter is addictive, and since it does have carbs, I'll have to consume it in moderation. I plan to use some almond butter in a dessert recipe that also involves chocolate (above 70% is recommended, and you can sweeten it with non-sugary sweeteners like monkfruit, Splenda, or erythritol); expect photos later.
For anyone who's backing away slowly: I have no plans to convert you to the keto diet. I don't consider myself a convert, to be honest: it's just a practical solution to a problem, as far as I'm concerned. The diet fascinates me because, as I watch keto-food videos, I can see how the strictures of the diet challenge people's creativity. How do you make keto pasta if you crave pasta (as I undoubtedly do)? How do you make keto hamburger buns (I'm still searching for a good recipe that doesn't use coconut flour or psyllium-husk fiber, and doesn't taste eggy or look weirdly shaped)? I have recipes for keto pancakes and tortillas that I actually enjoy, and in the meantime, it's fun to watch other people come up with good and bad alternatives to the food they used to eat pre-keto.
I've also come to realize that I see keto merely as a low-carb option. I couldn't care less about actual ketosis (where the body switches from burning carbs to burning fat); I just want to manage my blood sugar, lower my blood pressure, and lose weight. If the end result is the reversal of diabetes and the docs' taking me off pills while saying, "I hope I never see you again," then all the better.
Meanwhile, I will sing the praises of almond butter. God, that stuff is delicious.
It's nice to have options! It also provides new opportunities for you to express your creative kitchen talents. Back when I was living the low-carb lifestyle it was all about giving things up. I didn't consider making my own buns, I just ate the patty without one.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your experiments, Chef Kim!