When you're craving a comforting and flavorful soup that aligns with your ketogenic lifestyle, this Keto Reuben Soup with Homemade Croutons is an excellent choice. It combines the classic Reuben sandwich flavors into a creamy, satisfying soup, topped with crispy, keto-friendly croutons.
Understanding the Reuben
Traditional Reubens feature corned beef brisket as their star, and this soup follows suit. The other essential components are sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing.
Corned Beef Considerations
For an authentic flavor, use corned beef brisket. You can prepare it yourself in an Instant Pot, utilizing the seasoning packet that comes with it. Corned beef is available in two cuts: flat and point. The flat cut is leaner and more uniform, while the point cut has more fat. Either cut works well in this soup, but a point cut brisket was used for my soup. Alternatively, you can use cooked deli corned beef for convenience.
Sauerkraut Selection
When choosing sauerkraut, remember that traditional sauerkraut contains only cabbage, water, and salt. Bavarian sauerkraut includes caraway seeds and sugar. Be mindful of added sugars if you're strictly following a keto diet.
Dressing Decisions
Thousand Island dressing is the traditional choice for Reubens, offering a sweeter flavor due to the inclusion of sweet pickle relish. Russian dressing, a spicier alternative, contains horseradish and sometimes chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or hot sauce. For a homemade Thousand Island dressing, use unsweetened dill relish and add a keto-friendly sweetener like erythritol. Either Thousand Island or Russian dressing can be used in this soup. When buying pre-made dressings, carefully check the nutritional labels to avoid unwanted additives. If you prefer complete control over ingredients, making your own dressing is a great option.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Keto Croutons: Chaffle Magic
These croutons are crafted from chaffles, a keto staple made from cheese waffles. Basic chaffles require only two ingredients: eggs and shredded cheese. To enhance the croutons' texture, almond flour and baking powder are added. A Dash mini maker is ideal for creating these chaffles.
Crafting the Chaffles
To make the chaffles, simply mix the batter ingredients. Preheat the mini waffle maker and spray both sides with avocado oil spray. Pour about ¼ cup of batter onto the waffle maker and cook for approximately 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Repeat the spraying and cooking process until all the batter is used.
Transforming Chaffles into Croutons
Once the chaffles are ready, cut them into crouton-sized pieces. Toss them in melted butter and caraway seeds, then bake for about 15 minutes to achieve a crispy, golden texture.
Keto Reuben Soup Recipe
This recipe blends the classic Reuben flavors into a comforting soup, perfect for a chilly day.
Yields: 6 servingsPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 30 minutes
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Ingredients:## For the Soup:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup Thousand Island dressing
- 2 cups cooked corned beef, diced
- 2 cups sauerkraut, drained
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (optional)
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
For the Croutons:
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
Instructions:## For the Croutons:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Plug in mini waffle maker to heat.
- In a medium sized bowl, add eggs and beat lightly.
- Add almond flour and baking powder. Stir until completely combined. Add mozzarella cheese and stir until combined.
- When waffle maker is hot, spray top and bottom surfaces with avocado oil. Add approximately ¼ cup of chaffle batter to waffle maker. Close cover and heat for 3 minutes or until browned.
- Remove chaffle and set aside. Repeat process of spraying with avocado oil and heating chaffles until all batter is used.
- Cut up chaffles into crouton sized pieces. Place in an 8x8 inch pan. Pour melted butter over chaffles. Sprinkle caraway seeds over chaffles pieces. Stir to combine.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
For the Soup:
- In a large stockpot, over medium heat, melt butter and olive oil. Add celery and onions and sauté until vegetables start to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic during the last minute.
- Add broth, heavy whipping cream, Thousand Island dressing, corned beef, sauerkraut, salt, and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil.
- Decrease heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- If desired, sprinkle xanthan gum over the soup and whisk to combine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the soup starts to thicken.
- Add Swiss cheese and simmer until the cheese is melted.
- Serve the soup hot, topped with homemade croutons. Garnish with additional shredded Swiss cheese, if desired.
Variations and Additions
- Spice it up: Add a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.
- Vegetable Boost: Incorporate other vegetables like mushrooms or green bell peppers for added nutrients and flavor.
- Creaminess: For an extra creamy soup, add a tablespoon of cream cheese along with the Swiss cheese.
Serving Suggestions
This keto Reuben soup is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs well with a side salad.
A Note on Nutrition
Nutritional data can vary based on the specific corned beef and Thousand Island dressing used. Online nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and calculated with the assistance of a third-party service. Values are approximate, can’t be guaranteed, and should be considered as estimates only. Values differ according to types and brands of foods used. When used in a recipe, erythritol has been removed from the carb count as it is a sugar alcohol.
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