Indian breakfasts, while being considered largely health-oriented, are also carbohydrate heavy since they provide the necessary energy required to get through the day. For those looking to lose weight or consciously follow a low-carb diet, this can be quite the challenge to navigate. However, with a little creativity and tapping into what we would typically eat for breakfast, here are seven delicious low-carb breakfast options to try, that keep taste as the primary goal but without the guilt of piling on the calories.
Egg Bhurji
A popular Indian breakfast dish of spiced scrambled eggs, flavoured with onions, tomatoes and spices – the egg bhurji is typically eaten with local bread or rotis. Skip the carbohydrate component and bulk up your bhurji with vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers and corn for more nutrients and to keep full for longer. Add some cheese on top to make it feel like a treat!
Moong Dal Chilla
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Moong dal chilla is a nutritious, vegan low-carb pancake made by soaking green gram and grinding into a batter. Add spices like cumin, garlic, ginger and coriander powder along with herbs like curry leaves to the batter for extra flavour. Cook it on a non-stick pan with minimal oil like you would a dosa or pancake and serve with some green chutney or yoghurt.
Avocado Paratha
Replacing traditional wheat flour with almond flour or coconut flour to make low-carb avocado parathas is one of the best ways to fuse two of your favourite breakfasts – parathas and avocado toast. Mash a ripe avocado and season with spices, onions and cilantro and spread on rolled out dough before it is folded and cooked on a tava for a unique twist and a delicious breakfast option.
Spinach & Paneer Omelette
Image Credits: Tesco Real Food
Whisk eggs and make an omelette with sautéed spinach before adding in small cubes of paneer. This protein-packed and low-carb breakfast option is perfect to enjoy on its own or as a wrap in an almond-flour tortilla. Add some garlic and feta cheese for flavour and seasoning, as well as to give your eggs the much-needed savoury edge to kickstart the day.
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Cauliflower Upma
Twist the classic suji upma on its head with this cauliflower rice upma to make a low-carb version of the classic South Indian breakfast. Sauté cauliflower rice with mustard seeds, curry leaves, onions and veggies of your choice for a plate of upma that tastes as amazing as the original one. Since cauliflower rice also requires lesser cooking time than suji, this upma recipe is ideal to keep in your inventory for last-minute breakfasts.
Keto Dosa
Image Credits: Dieta Keto
Make dosa batter using almond flour, coconut flour or a mixture of both to make lacy dosas that can be eaten with sambar and coconut chutney. Make a thicker batter if you’re craving uttapams and stud it with lots of grated vegetables and fresh herbs like mint and coriander. You can also stuff these low-calorie dosas with a spiced paneer mixture or scrambled tofu for a protein-packed, plant-based breakfast.
Masala Oats
Image Credits: Tasted Recipes
Give your boring and lacklustre bowl of breakfast oats some life by making your homemade version of desi-style masala oats. Using minimal oil to splutter mustard seeds, green chillies and curry leaves, add some chopped onions, carrots and beans before cooking the oats in some vegetable stock. Serve warm with a dollop of ghee or cultured butter, for extra flavour.