Try these pistachio cookies if you’re looking for a delicious cookie recipe which is compatible with your keto diet. These cookies are crusty on the outside and crumbly and chewy on the inside.
As a high-fat, low carb diet, the ketogenic diet requires followers to eat lots of healthy fats in favor of carbs. Among the high fat foods perfect for the keto diet are nuts, such as pistachios.
Related reading: Best Nuts to Eat On Keto
These incredibly delicious nuts are popular among people following low carb diets since they are calorie dense and can go well with many low carb recipes.
Regular pistachio cookies contain sugar and wheat flour which of course is no good for a low carb or keto diet.
Where do pistachios come from?
Although pistachio trees have been grown in the Middle East for thousands of years, a town in Italy close to Mount Etna is considered to be the world’s best producer of pistachios. The volcanic soil in which they are grown gives them the delicious taste that the area is famous for.
What Makes Pistachios a Popular Choice for Keto?
As a calorie-dense food, pistachios can satisfy your hunger cravings. Like most nuts, they contain an abundance of dietary fats, which is great for low carb diets like keto.
In addition, pistachios are packed full of protein. As you may know, protein is good for keto because it helps increase our body’s ability to burn calories while minimizing cravings and satisfying hunger.
While the carb content of pistachios is a bit on the higher side, having 28 grams of carbs for every 100 grams, most of these carbs are dietary fiber. A 100-gram serving of pistachios will leave you with around 4.7 net grams of carbs. Therefore, eating pistachios on keto should not kick you out of ketosis.
How to Incorporate Pistachios into your Keto Diet
While most keto dieters will eat pistachios as snacks, the best way to add them to your diet is to cook them into delicious pastries, such as these pistachio cookies.
Related reading:Best Snacks for Keto Diet
Pistachios can also make a perfect substitute for breadcrumbs to coat fish or chicken. Throw them in a grinder or food processor, and they will replicate the texture of breadcrumbs, perfect for breading foods.
You can also combine pistachios with other nuts. For instance, in this pistachio cookies recipe from Heavenly Fan, almond nuts are combined with the pistachios. Like pistachios, almonds also contain a healthy amount of fats.
For another easy and tasty keto cookies try this Keto Butter Cookies Recipe. or these Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Pistachio Cookies Recipe
Makes 10 – 12 cookies
Ingredients
- 100 grams unsalted and unroasted pistachios nuts + a few more for garnishing
- 100 grams unsalted and unroasted almonds (you can also use almond flour of the same amount)
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 3-4 tbsp erythritol or any sweetener of your choice
- 2 tbsp or 30 grams melted coconut oil
- 1 tbsp organic lemon juice
- 2 tbsp cold filtered water
- Zest of an organic lemon
Directions
1. Using a food processor process the pistachio and almond nuts, until they are finely ground, with a texture similar to almond flour.
2. Zest the lemon and keep aside. Squeeze the lemon and reserve 1 tablespoonful.
3. Add all dry ingredients, such as the pistachios and almond nuts, flaxseed, baking soda, and sweetener to a large bowl. Mix all ingredients together well.
4. Add the liquid ingredients to the mix. Combine all ingredients until they form a dough ball.
5. Cover the dough and chill in the fridge for up to an hour.
6. Divide the dough into 10 or 12 equal portions. Use your hands to roll them into round balls. Arrange them on a baking tray lined with parchment and press each cookie lightly using two fingers to your desired thickness. Top each cookie with a whole pistachio nut.
7. Bake the cookies in a 180°C/350°F preheated oven for up to 20 minutes. Once they turn golden brown, take them out to cool. The pistachio cookies will appear soft when freshly baked. However, they will eventually crunch up when cooled.
8. Once cooled, serve and enjoy!
Here’s a video of how to prepare these pistachio cookies:
