Corned beef is a staple dish for St. Patrick's Day, but it can be enjoyed any time of year. This article explores keto-friendly corned beef recipes that offer a low-carb take on this traditional meal. By making a few simple substitutions, you can enjoy the delicious flavors of corned beef without compromising your ketogenic diet.
Understanding Corned Beef
Corned beef gets its name from the curing process, where beef is brined in salt, also known as "corns" of salt. Traditionally, corned beef is served with cabbage and potatoes, but for a keto version, we'll be replacing the potatoes with radishes or cauliflower.
Keto Corned Beef and Cabbage with Radish "Potatoes"
This recipe offers a healthier, preservative-free, nitrate-free version of the classic Irish dish. It uses uncured corned beef, which might not have the bright pinkish-red color of traditional corned beef due to the absence of nitrates, but the taste remains amazing.
Ingredients:
- Uncured corned beef brisket (Wellshire Uncured Corned Beef from Whole Foods Market is a good option, pre-seasoned with natural spices)
- 8 cups beef bone broth or stock (2- 32 oz. containers)
- Garlic cloves
- Bay leaves
- Onion
- Radishes
- Cabbage
Instructions:
- Heat a Dutch oven or stockpot over medium to medium-high heat.
- Place the corned beef fat side up, along with juices and spice pack in the Dutch oven or stockpot. If the corned beef doesn't come with a spice packet, use a tablespoon of premade pickling spice or make your own blend with about a 1/4 teaspoon of each of the following spices: coriander, peppercorns, mustard seeds, crushed bay leaves, crushed red pepper flakes, and anise seeds.
- Add in the garlic cloves and bay leaves.
- Pour in the bone broth to cover the corned beef.
- Bring to just a boil and then reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 3 hours.
- Add in the onion and radishes after 2 hours so that they cook with the corned beef for about an hour.
- Once the corned beef is done, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and turn your oven to broil.
- Remove the corned beef from the Dutch oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
- Place the sliced corned beef and onion, cabbage, and radish mixture on the baking sheet. Use a slotted spoon to remove the vegetables from the broth.
- Broil on HIGH for 5 minutes, checking every minute or two, until the edges of the meat are just starting to get crispy and the cabbage just slightly browns.
This keto corned beef and cabbage with radish "potatoes" is a delightful way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day or enjoy a hearty, low-carb meal any time of the year.
Slow Cooker Keto Corned Beef
A slow cooker is a convenient way to prepare corned beef, allowing the flavors to meld together over several hours.
Read also: Delicious Keto Meal
Ingredients:
- Corned beef brisket
- Spice packet (or 1 tablespoon homemade seasoning)
- 4 cups water (or enough to cover the roast)
- Onions
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cabbage
Instructions:
- Add corned beef brisket and the spice packet (or 1 tablespoon homemade seasoning) to a slow cooker.
- Pour 4 cups or enough water over brisket to just cover the whole roast.
- Add onions, carrots, and celery.
- Cover and slow cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
- Add cabbage the last half hour of cooking time, Cover and continue to cook the remaining 30 minutes.
- Remove vegetables and cabbage with a slotted spoon from crockpot to drain excess liquid.
- Remove corned beef and slice against the grain.
Instant Pot Keto Corned Beef and Cabbage
For a quicker cooking method, the Instant Pot (pressure cooker) is an excellent choice.
Instructions:
- Place beef brisket into the pot.
- Discard the spice packet that comes with the meat.
- Cover the beef with water, add more to cover if needed.
- Add the spices into the pot.
- Cover and set on “Meat/Stew” for 60 minutes on high.
- Hit Cancel then use the Natural Release method, about 20 minutes.
- Remove cover carefully, watch for steam, remove brisket and keep warm.
- Add the vegetables to the pot and press “Soup” setting for 15 minutes.
- Use the “Quick” Release method.
- Uncover and add the beef back to the pot to warm through.
- Enjoy immediately!
Keto-Friendly Corned Beef Hash
If you love corned beef hash but want to avoid the high carb content of potatoes, this keto-friendly version is a perfect alternative. The secret ingredient? Cauliflower!
Ingredients:
- Canned corned beef (choose one with minimal sugar content)
- Cauliflower
- Olive oil
- Cajun seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Wash the cauliflower and remove the leaves and tough bottom part of stem. Remove the florets and use in another recipe. Dice the hard, white stem cutting it into tiny cubes.
- Sauté the diced stem in the olive oil for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat, allowing them to brown a little bit.
- Add the corned beef hash (be careful opening that can!), chop it up into bits, and fry it for another 4-5 minutes stirring, letting it get crispy and brown on the bottom.
- Add cauliflower and cajun seasoning to the skillet and mix.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with a sunny-side up egg, a few slices of avocado, and you’re all set!
Tips for the Best Keto Corned Beef
- Choosing the right corned beef: Opt for uncured corned beef to avoid nitrates and preservatives.
- Spice it up: If your corned beef doesn't come with a spice packet, you can easily make your own pickling spice blend.
- Cooking liquid: Beef bone broth adds richness and flavor to the corned beef. You can save the leftover broth and even freeze it for use at a later time.
- Vegetable substitutions: Radishes and cauliflower are excellent low-carb alternatives to potatoes in corned beef and cabbage and corned beef hash.
- Crispy hash: To get a good, crispy bottom on your corned beef hash, get the pan good and hot (medium-high). A bit of added oil will help, too. It’ll also help to use a large skillet. Overcrowding the pan will steam it, not crisp it.
- Adjust vegetables: You can adjust the vegetables to your desired audience. If people are eating hardcore keto, don't serve them the carrots or onions. If you're eating with non keto people, add potatoes but don't eat them yourself.
- Seasoning: Canned corned beef is already fairly high in sodium, so you probably don’t need to add much - or any - to this dish. Taste it before adding salt.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information for these recipes can vary depending on the specific ingredients used. However, a serving of keto corned beef and cabbage with radish potatoes is typically low in carbs and high in protein and fat, making it a suitable option for a ketogenic diet.
For example, one serving of crockpot corned beef and cabbage (1/10th of the recipe) contains approximately:
Read also: Delicious Keto Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Calories: 583
- Fat: 40g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 42g
Read also: Delicious Keto Casserole