Dante Carrillo
Thai cuisine offers a variety of keto-friendly options, allowing those on a ketogenic diet to enjoy its rich flavors and fresh ingredients. While some popular Thai dishes are high in carbohydrates, there are simple substitutions and alternatives to keep you in ketosis. From savory soups to flavorful stir-fries, Thai restaurants provide a range of choices that can be tailored to your keto needs. So, what are some of the best keto-friendly dishes to order when dining at a Thai restaurant?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Keto-friendly foods | Meat, fish, tofu, coconut milk, curry, low-carb vegetables |
| Dishes to avoid | Rice, beans, noodles, sweet sauces |
| Tips | Swap out rice, beans and sweet sauces for keto-friendly foods, order meat with low-carb veggies as a stir-fry with no brown sauce, ensure meat isn't breaded |
| Keto-friendly dishes | Tom Yam Goong, Thai barbecue beef, Pad cashew, Pad Prik King, Thai skewers, Tom Yum soup |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Keto-friendly Thai curries
Thai cuisine is rich in keto-friendly foods, such as coconut milk, curry, meats, fish, tofu, and low-carb veggies. However, many Thai dishes contain oyster sauce and added sugars. When ordering keto-friendly meals at Thai restaurants, it is recommended to opt for meat and vegetable stir-fries without brown sauce and to avoid any rice that may accompany the dish. Here are some keto-friendly Thai curry suggestions:
Keto Thai Chicken Curry
This curry typically includes chicken breast, onion, red and orange bell pepper, zucchini, avocado, and chives, garnished with cilantro and green onions. The curry is cooked in coconut oil and seasoned with sea salt and pepper. To thicken the sauce, some recipes use Just Mayo or heavy whipping cream. Ginger, garlic, and spices like cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes add flavour and heat to the dish. Instead of canned coconut milk, which is higher in carbs, unsweetened coconut milk can be used to reduce the carb count.
Keto Vegan Thai Curry
This vegan curry includes coconut oil, ginger, garlic, bell pepper strips, lemon grass, coconut milk, chilli flakes, soy sauce, Thai curry paste, tomato paste, and almond butter. Tofu cubes are added for protein. The curry is served with coriander and green onions.
Tom Yam Goong
Tom Yam Goong is a sour and hot soup that contains vegetables and shrimp. It is a keto-friendly option that can be enjoyed without worrying about the carb count.
Massaman Curry
Massaman Curry is a curry made with garlic, shrimp, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin, anise star, nutmeg, and chilli peppers. This curry can be made keto-friendly by controlling the amount of coconut milk used and opting for unsweetened coconut milk to reduce the carb count.
When dining at a Thai restaurant, remember to familiarize yourself with the staple dishes and their ingredients. You can always ask for lettuce or steamed vegetables instead of rice and hold any sugary sauces that might accompany your meal.
Fried Seafood on Keto: What's Safe to Eat?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Tom Yum soup
When ordering Tom Yum soup at a Thai restaurant, ask for it to be made without sugary sauces and rice. You can also request to add more vegetables or choose a protein source like grilled chicken or shrimp to make it more filling. Some people also like to add spinach, bok choy, or enoki mushrooms to their soup for extra flavour and texture.
To make Tom Yum soup truly keto-friendly, it is important to pay attention to the ingredients used. For example, some recipes call for coconut milk, which is high in fat and suitable for a keto diet. However, other recipes may include root vegetables or fruits, which are not recommended on a keto diet.
When in doubt, ask the restaurant about the ingredients used in their Tom Yum soup and make any necessary adjustments to ensure it aligns with your keto diet. With a few modifications, you can enjoy this delicious and aromatic Thai soup while staying true to your dietary preferences.
Overall, Tom Yum soup is a great choice for keto dieters when ordered and customised with keto-friendly options in mind.
Keto Bars: Healthy Everyday Snacking?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Thai barbecue beef
When ordering Thai barbecue beef, it is important to ensure that the meat is not breaded and to pass on any brown sauce or other sugary sauces that may come with the dish. You can ask for steamed vegetables or lettuce instead of rice to keep it keto-friendly.
If you want to make Thai barbecue beef at home, here is a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- Beef (sirloin, ribeye, hanger steak, or your preferred cut)
- Soy sauce
- Fish sauce
- Black pepper
- Lime juice
- Mint leaves
- Coriander
- Spring onions
- Chilli flakes
- Crushed pork rinds
- Sunflower seeds
- Nuts (optional)
Instructions:
- Marinate the beef in soy sauce, fish sauce, and black pepper for at least 30 minutes.
- Juice the limes, pluck the mint leaves, chop the coriander, and finely chop the spring onion.
- In a large bowl, mix the beef with the lime juice, mint leaves, coriander, spring onions, chilli flakes, fish sauce, sukrin gold, pork rinds, and sunflower seeds.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.
- Sear the beef on a chargrill or hot frypan to your desired level of doneness.
- Remove from the heat and let the beef rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare your choice of vegetables by steaming or stir-frying them.
- Slice the beef into strips and serve on top of the vegetables with the garnishes of your choice, such as nuts and extra chilli.
Enjoy your delicious and keto-friendly Thai barbecue beef!
Keto Diet: Are Coated Nuts a Snack Option?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Meat and vegetable stir-fry
Thai cuisine is rich in keto-friendly foods, such as coconut milk, curry, meats, fish, tofu, and low-carb veggies. When ordering a stir-fry at a Thai restaurant, opt for meat with a selection of low-carb vegetables and no brown sauce or rice.
If you're making a keto stir-fry at home, a simple option is to stir-fry ground beef with low-carb vegetables of your choice. You can add zucchini, mushrooms, snap peas, or cabbage. You can also add spices like garlic, ginger, and pepper. For flavour, you can add soy sauce, coconut aminos, or Bragg's Liquid Aminos, a healthier version of soy sauce.
If you want to add noodles to your stir-fry, opt for low-carb options like hearts of palm noodles, zucchini noodles, or gluten-free pasta.
You can serve the stir-fry with a side salad or cauliflower rice.
Are Carb Killa Bars Keto-Friendly?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Thai skewers
When ordering Thai skewers at a restaurant, ask for the meat to be grilled and request any sauce on the side. This way, you can control the amount of sauce you consume and keep the dish low-carb. You can also ask for extra vegetables instead of rice or noodles, which are not keto-friendly.
If you're making Thai skewers at home, here's a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- Chicken or beef cubes
- Wooden or metal skewers
- Vegetables of your choice (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc.)
- Keto-friendly sauce (check the ingredients to ensure it's low-carb)
Directions:
- Cut the meat into evenly sized cubes.
- Thread the meat cubes onto the skewers, leaving a small space between each piece.
- Grill the skewers until the meat is cooked to your desired doneness.
- Serve with grilled or steamed vegetables and a keto-friendly sauce on the side.
For a more authentic Thai flavor, you can make a keto-friendly satay sauce by combining mixed nut butter, rice vinegar, monk fruit, sesame seed oil, avocado oil, coconut aminos, lime juice, ginger, and salt. This sauce can be used as a marinade for the meat and also as a dipping sauce.
Watermelon and Keto: A Sweet Dilemma
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Ketogenic Diet is a low-carbohydrate method of eating.
Thai food is rich in many keto-friendly foods, including coconut milk, curry, meats, fish, tofu, and low-carb veggies. Some keto-friendly dishes at Thai restaurants include Tom Yam Goong (a sour and hot soup with vegetables and shrimp), Thai barbecue beef, and Pad Cashew (a stir-fry with meat or seafood and vegetables in a sweet chilli sauce).
You should avoid sugary sauces, rice, noodles, and breaded meat.
Ask for your meal to be served with lettuce or steamed vegetables instead of rice, and hold any sauce that might come with your dish.
