Is Shakshuka Keto Friendly? Adapting the Classic Dish

December 8, 2025 •

4 min read

With the keto diet restricting carbohydrates, many wonder if traditional dishes like shakshuka, which features a tomato base, can fit their low-carb lifestyle. While a standard recipe may be high in carbs due to tomatoes and onions, it can be easily modified to be keto-compliant by focusing on portion control and strategic ingredient swaps.

Quick Summary

Shakshuka can be made keto-friendly with simple adjustments. The classic version, with its tomato and onion base, can be modified to reduce carb count by limiting tomato quantity, adding low-carb vegetables, and increasing healthy fats. Essential components like eggs and spices are naturally keto, making adaptation straightforward.

Key Points

Moderate Tomato Intake: While fresh tomatoes are low-carb, be mindful of portion sizes and avoid sugary processed sauces to keep your shakshuka keto-compliant.
Strategize with Low-Carb Vegetables: Bulk up your dish with keto-friendly vegetables like spinach, zucchini, and bell peppers to add volume and nutrients without excess carbs.
Enhance with Healthy Fats: Boost your fat intake by adding avocado, high-fat cheese like feta, or fatty meats like chorizo to the recipe.
Eggs are a Keto Powerhouse: The eggs in shakshuka are naturally low-carb and high-protein, making them a perfect, filling base for the dish.
Opt for Keto Accompaniments: Instead of traditional bread, serve your shakshuka with cauliflower rice or enjoy it on its own to keep your meal low-carb.
Control the Carbs: By swapping and measuring ingredients, you can easily turn a higher-carb dish into a delicious, nutrient-dense keto meal that fits your macros.

Understanding the Keto Diet and Carb Counts

Before diving into a keto-friendly shakshuka, it's crucial to understand the basics of the ketogenic diet. The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan where the goal is to enter and maintain a state of ketosis, a metabolic state where the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. To achieve this, most individuals aim to restrict their net carbohydrate intake to between 20 and 50 grams per day. Net carbs are calculated by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrates.

Traditional shakshuka is a Middle Eastern and North African dish featuring eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices. The main challenge for keto dieters lies in the tomato and onion base. While fresh tomatoes have a low net carb count (around 2.7g per 100g), concentrated tomato products like canned tomatoes or tomato paste, as well as onions, can quickly push a dish over a daily carb limit if not measured carefully.

Can Tomatoes be Keto?

Yes, fresh tomatoes are generally keto-friendly when consumed in moderation. The key is to be mindful of portion sizes. A single medium-sized tomato contains roughly 2.7 grams of net carbs, making it a great way to add flavor and nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K without derailing your diet. The challenge arises with processed tomato products, which often contain added sugars and a higher carb density. Always opt for fresh or canned diced tomatoes with no added sugar.

How to Adapt Shakshuka for a Keto Diet

Making a keto-friendly shakshuka is not only possible but can also be incredibly delicious. The key is to reduce the volume of high-carb ingredients and replace them with low-carb alternatives and extra fats. Eggs are a perfect keto food, providing high-quality protein and healthy fats with less than one gram of carbs per egg. Spices like paprika, cumin, and chili flakes are also carb-free and essential for the dish's signature flavor.

Ingredient Swaps for a Low-Carb Base

Swap excess tomatoes: Instead of a large volume of tomato sauce, use a smaller amount of diced tomatoes combined with other low-carb vegetables to build the base. This reduces the overall carb count significantly.
Reduce onions: Onions, while flavorful, are higher in carbs. Replace half of the onion with green onions or leeks for a similar aromatic flavor with fewer carbs, or omit them entirely if on a strict keto plan.
Add low-carb vegetables: Boost the fiber and volume of your shakshuka base with keto-approved vegetables. Popular choices include:
- Shredded cabbage
- Spinach
- Zucchini
- Bell peppers (especially green, which are lower in carbs)
- Mushrooms

Increasing Healthy Fats and Protein

To increase the fat content, you can:

Use healthy cooking fats like avocado oil, olive oil, or ghee.
Incorporate fatty meats like chorizo or spicy sausage into the sauce.
Top with creamy, full-fat cheeses like feta or goat's cheese.
Add diced avocado just before serving for extra healthy fats and texture.

Keto-Friendly Shakshuka Comparison Table


Feature	Traditional Shakshuka	Keto-Friendly Shakshuka
Tomato Base	High volume of canned tomatoes and paste, often with added sugar.	Limited amount of fresh or canned no-sugar-added tomatoes.
Aromatics	Often uses large amounts of white or yellow onions.	Uses fewer onions, or substitutes with green onions or leeks.
Vegetables	Limited to onions and peppers.	Adds low-carb vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or cabbage to increase volume.
Fats	Primarily from olive oil and eggs.	Increases fat with chorizo, avocado, extra olive oil, or high-fat cheese.
Serving	Traditionally served with bread for dipping.	Served on its own or with keto-friendly bread alternatives.
Net Carbs	Can be moderate to high, depending on ingredients.	Significantly lower, typically under 10g per serving.

Keto Side Dishes and Variations

To make a complete keto meal, consider serving your shakshuka with complementary, low-carb sides. A simple side salad with a high-fat dressing adds freshness, while a side of cauliflower rice is an excellent base to soak up the flavorful sauce. You can also experiment with different versions of the dish, such as a green shakshuka that swaps the tomato base for a mix of spinach and zucchini, or a meaty version with added chorizo for a heartier meal.

Conclusion

It is clear that a classic shakshuka can be easily and deliciously adapted to be keto-friendly. By making conscious ingredient choices—such as opting for fewer, fresh tomatoes, incorporating more low-carb vegetables like spinach or zucchini, and adding extra healthy fats from cheese or avocado—you can enjoy this flavorful dish while staying in ketosis. The versatility of the recipe means you don't have to sacrifice flavor for your dietary goals. With smart substitutions, shakshuka can become a regular, nourishing staple in your low-carb diet.

Check out more Keto recipes and ideas at this Keto-focused site. This link provides valuable resources for those following a ketogenic diet, from recipes to meal prep tips, ensuring you have the support you need to stay on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fresh tomatoes are generally keto-friendly when consumed in moderation. However, store-bought tomato products like paste and sauce often contain added sugars, which should be avoided.

You can reduce the carb count by using a smaller amount of no-sugar-added diced tomatoes and supplementing the base with lower-carb vegetables like spinach, shredded cabbage, or zucchini.

To reduce carbs, you can use smaller amounts of onion or substitute with green onions, leeks, or even flavor extracts, though green onions offer a milder flavor that works well.

Increase your fat content by cooking with olive oil or avocado oil, topping the finished dish with avocado slices, or stirring in chorizo or feta cheese.

Yes, full-fat cheeses like feta and goat cheese are excellent keto-friendly toppings for shakshuka, adding both flavor and healthy fats.

Adding meats like chorizo or spicy sausage is a great way to increase both fat and protein, making the dish more satisfying and suitable for a keto diet.

For a keto-friendly side, consider serving shakshuka with cauliflower rice, a side salad with a fatty dressing, or simply enjoy it on its own.