Name: Low Carb Keto Croutons
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 large egg whites; 9 tbsp almond flour (54g, use 8.5 tbsp if your almond flour is super fine); 3/4 tsp psyllium husk powder; 3/4 tsp baking powder; 1.5 tbsp water; 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 garlic clove (minced, or 1/2 tsp garlic powder); 1/3 - 1/2 tsp flaked sea salt to taste; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs

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These keto croutons are unbelievably crunchy! This easy, flavorful recipe is a wonderful addition to any soup or salad. 2.4g net carbs per portion.

Low carb croutons in a tray with chopped parsley

It's always the little extras that make a dish exciting. The chopped fresh herbs, the pretty garlic oil swirls, the scattered roasted seeds and of course, the croutons.

I regularly make Caesar salad with chicken for lunch, and these low carb croutons take it to the next level. They are super crispy and full of flavor - packed with delicious herbs, garlic and olive oil.

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Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients
Instructions
Recipe Tips and Variations
Uses
Storage
Can I use different bread?
Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

Keto friendly. Since normal white bread is not keto, I'm using a version of my 90 Second Keto Bread to make this crouton recipe. It's a speedy and simple bread and it tastes great. Even better, since the bread is made with almond flour instead of wheat, one serving contains only 2.4g net carbs.

So crunchy and tasty. Roasted in the oven, the croutons become extremely crunchy and taste just like the real deal.

Plus, it's quick! Since the bread is made in the microwave, the whole recipe takes only 30 minutes from start to finish. Hands-on prep time is just 5 minutes.

Ingredients

Bread:

Egg white - Using only the white and not the yolk means the bread does to taste eggy.
Almond flour - I used ground almonds, which is equivalent to regular almond flour in the US. If you have super fine almond flour, use ½ tablespoon less.
Psyllium husk powder - Make sure you're using the fine powder and not whole psyllium husks (which looks like little sticks).
Baking powder
Water

Croutons:

Extra virgin olive oil - Choose a fruity, deep colored oil for a more intense taste. Or, use melted butter.
Garlic - I like using freshly minced garlic, but you can use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
Salt & pepper
Italian herbs

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Instructions

Let's make keto croutons! Here are the basic steps. For detailed instructions and nutrition info, scroll down to the recipe card.

Step 1: Stir together the egg whites, almond flour, psyllium husk, baking powder and water in a bowl and mix with a fork.

Step 2: Grease a 5 x 5 inch container, fill in the bread dough and microwave for 3 minutes. It should fold away from the edges and look like this:

Step 3: Chop the bread into cubes.

bread cut into little squares on a baking sheet

Step 4: Now, mix the olive oil, Italian seasoning and spices together. Toss the bread cubes and the flavored oil together in a large bowl.

Step 5: Bake in the oven on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper until crisp, turning once.

Recipe Tips and Variations

Bread

Microwave timings: My microwave operates at 900 watts. If your microwave cooks at a lower power level, increase the time by 10 seconds or more. If it cooks at 1000W or higher, reduce the time by 10-20 seconds.

Oven method: To bake the bread in the oven, preheat it to 180C / 350F electric or 160C / 320F fan. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Nut free bread: Use a 50/50 mix of sesame and sunflower seed flour instead of almond flour.

Croutons

Different containers: You can use any container available! Cooking times may differ slightly.

Air fryer method: Instead of using the oven, it's possible to crisp up gluten free croutons in the Air Fryer. Set it to 180C / 350F and bake for 15 minutes. Shake the basket half-way through.

Grill / Broiler method: Pre-heat the grill and toast until golden brown, shaking the pan regularly. Be sure to use the middle or a lower rack to ensure the bread does not burn.

Pan fry method: Pan-fry over a low heat until browned evenly. This is quicker than using the oven, however, I always get the most even and crunchy result if I use the oven.

Different spices: Onion powder, oregano, cumin, paprika or za'atar would all work well. Or add a little grated parmesan cheese.

Uses

Here are ideas where you can use this keto croutons recipe:

Any healthy green salads
Caesar salad (made with my very irresistible keto caesar dressing)
Keto mushroom soup
Creamy low carb butternut squash soup
Roasted cauliflower soup
Crush them and use as breadcrumbs sprinkled over low carb veggies
or enjoy as a snack!

Storage

Store keto croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

I tried freezing the croutons but found that they lost their crunch. If you do decide to freeze them, pop them back into the oven or air fryer to dry them out and let them crisp up.