Greek Koulouri goes Keto and Micro
Have you ever been to Greece? Then you know what the earth, the sky, the music and love is!
Demis Roussos – One of the most famous Greek singers
The Greek way of expression! I am starting this article with great respect for late Demis who had a lot of passion for good things in life. Music, art, international success, women and good food. A typical Greek, you might say. This is simply a part of us… To this legendary sentence by Demis, I would like to add:
– Have you been to Greece? Then you know what Koulouri is!
Now, really – What is Koulouri?
Historians outline Koulouri’s roots back to the time of antiquity – ancient Greek word “kollyra” could be the key. It was a sort of circular bread, usually given to slaves or poor people. Street food was the only source of nourishment for lower class Greeks throughout millennia. During the Byzantine Empire, the streets of Constantinople were overflown with people selling some sort of cheap food. Cheap but delicious.
Koulouri was one of those foods. It’s a circle of bread spattered with sesame seeds. Thessaloniki, the capital of Greek Macedonia region today carries the name of Koulouri birthplace. There is no Greek town, village or island that doesn’t offer it in Greece. I must admit, it tastes amazing. But not thank’s to wheat flour. The secret is in the sesame seeds!
Keto Koulouri – quite possible!
Some say that the original version has to be eaten within 4 hours after it was baked. Otherwise, you are risking to break your teeth. Ahh, we know why. Our good old enemy called gluten. Well, classical Koulouri dough is made of wheat flour, salt and water. This already tells us that after some hours, the baked Koulouri becomes as hard as stone. But that’s not the most unhealthy part of it.
We don’t eat wheat flour, but we eat sesame
In fact, we should eat more of it. This is why I was inspired to create a Keto version of the famous Greek koulouri. I believe I succeeded! The taste is not the same but it’s close enough. All the good benefits of sesame seeds and other keto friendly ingredients make these rings a great addition to your main meals. You can enjoy them with some spreads, bacon, with your omelette or salad.
I wouldn’t recommend snacking on them because you will not be able to stop! And then, you will have to skip your next two meals! This version is not only different due to Keto ingredients, but it’s also different in size. The main reason is that nutrient-dense Keto Koulouri would be just too much to eat if it was served in original size.
Here we go!
Keto Koulouri
Ingredients
- 100 g (3.5 oz) almond flour blanched
- 150 g (5.2 oz) ground peanuts (oven baked)
- 2 tbsp ground sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 1 tbsp psyllium powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 large egg free-range
- 1/2 cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Decoration
- 3 tbsp sesame seeds whole
Instructions
- Mix all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Add the egg, olive oil, lemon juice and mix with your hands. Now slowly start adding warm water and keep mixing. The goal is to get an elastic dough. Leave it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Pick some dough and using your palms roll it to create long sticks. Connect the ends of each stick to form a circle. Place them on the baking sheet.
- Using a brush, damp all the circles with warm water so that sesame seeds stick. Sprinkle with a lot of sesame seeds.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 200º Celsius.
- Serve warm or cold with spreads, salads, cheese, fish or meat.
Great recipe but I had to add another cup of almond flour. I guess you could add less water. I also added I tablespoon of sweetener. They turned out great. I love them. Thanks. Anna Maria
How many net carbs are in one serving?
Thanks Anna