Egyptian keto guide
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100 dishes50 keto as served100 with a photo
Keto friendliness
Adapting Egyptian cuisine to keto requires strict avoidance of staple starches and careful selection of protein-focused dishes.
Top ingredients
Grilled meats (kofta, kebab, shish taouk), fish, eggs, some cheeses, tahini, and non-starchy vegetables are excellent traditional keto choices.
Danger zones
The ubiquitous aish baladi (bread), rice, koshary, ful medames (fava beans), ta'ameya (falafel), and mahshi (stuffed vegetables with rice) are major carb traps.
Best for
This cuisine is best for disciplined keto dieters comfortable with custom orders and who prioritize grilled meats, simple salads, and plain protein over traditional carb-heavy staples.
35 matching dishes
لحمة مسلوقة
Boiled Beef/Lamb with Clarified Butter/Ghee
Plain boiled chunks of tender beef or lamb (often from the neck or shank), served hot. While typically a base …
1 net1 total0 fibre65 protein45 fat680 kcal
طحال مقلي
Fried Spleen
Pan-fried beef spleen, typically seasoned with garlic, lemon, salt, pepper, and sometimes a hint of chili. Thi…
2 net2 total0 fibre50 protein55 fat650 kcal
لحمة بتلو محمرة (بدون بانيه)
Pan-fried Veal Cutlets (Unbreaded)
Tender veal cutlets, typically pan-fried to a golden crisp in butter or oil. The keto modification ensures no …
2 net3 total1 fibre60 protein45 fat650 kcal
فراخ/حمام مشوي
Roasted Chicken / Pigeon
Whole roasted or grilled chicken or pigeon, simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and sometimes a blend of Egypti…
2 net2 total0 fibre60 protein45 fat700 kcal
حمام محمر (بدون حشو)
Roasted Pigeon (Unstuffed)
A whole roasted or pan-fried pigeon, crispy-skinned and flavorful. Traditionally, it's often stuffed with rice…
2 net3 total1 fibre55 protein58 fat750 kcal
سمك مقلي (بدون دقيق)
Pan-Fried Fish (Unbreaded)
Whole fish (like Tilapia or Bulti) or substantial fillets seasoned simply with salt, pepper, cumin, and lemon,…
3 net4 total1 fibre60 protein50 fat700 kcal
دجاج بالزعتر
Roasted Chicken with Thyme and Garlic
Whole chicken pieces or a whole chicken slow-roasted with olive oil, fresh thyme, garlic, and lemon, resulting…
3 net5 total2 fibre70 protein50 fat750 kcal
فخدة ضاني
Roasted Lamb Leg
A whole leg of lamb, typically slow-roasted with aromatic spices, garlic, and onions until fall-off-the-bone t…
3 net4 total1 fibre75 protein55 fat850 kcal
نيفة
Slow-Roasted Whole Lamb (Nifa)
A whole lamb or a large cut (like a leg or shoulder) slow-roasted in the oven until exceptionally tender and f…
3 net4 total1 fibre80 protein60 fat900 kcal
لسان بالخل والثوم
Tongue with Vinegar and Garlic Salad
Boiled and thinly sliced beef or lamb tongue, marinated and served cold in a tangy dressing of vinegar, garlic…
3 net4 total1 fibre40 protein40 fat550 kcal
سمك بالفرن بالزيت والليمون
Baked Fish with Lemon and Olive Oil
Whole or filleted fresh fish (such as sea bass, bream, or red snapper) simply baked in the oven with a generou…
4 net6 total2 fibre55 protein40 fat600 kcal
سمك مشوي
Grilled Fish
A whole fresh fish (commonly Tilapia, Sea Bream, or Bass) grilled simply with a robust seasoning of cumin, gar…
4 net5 total1 fibre60 protein30 fat550 kcal
جمبري مشوي
Grilled Shrimp
Fresh shrimp marinated in garlic, lemon, and spices, then grilled to perfection. A naturally low-carb and high…
4 net4 total0 fibre70 protein35 fat600 kcal
فسيخ / رنجة
Salted Fermented Fish (Fesikh / Ringa)
Fesikh is a traditional Egyptian dish of salted, fermented mullet, while Ringa is smoked herring. Both are pun…
4 net5 total1 fibre45 protein48 fat600 kcal
بسطرمة شرائح
Sliced Egyptian Cured Beef (Basterma)
Thinly sliced, air-dried cured beef, heavily spiced with a distinctive fenugreek-garlic paste (chaman). A pung…
4 net5 total1 fibre35 protein18 fat300 kcal
بيض أومليت بالجبنة أو خضار
Cheese or Vegetable Omelette
A classic omelette prepared with eggs, mixed with local cheeses like Roomy or white cheese, or diced low-carb …
5 net7 total2 fibre30 protein45 fat550 kcal
مدفونة لحمة (بدون أرز)
Meat Medfouna (without rice)
Extremely tender, slow-cooked meat (typically lamb or beef) traditionally prepared by 'burying' it in hot coal…
5 net7 total2 fibre70 protein75 fat900 kcal
كبدة اسكندراني
Alexandrian Liver
Slices of beef liver quickly stir-fried with hot green peppers, garlic, and a blend of spices like cumin and c…
6 net8 total2 fibre45 protein50 fat650 kcal
طاجن لحمة مفرومة بالبيض
Baked Minced Meat and Eggs Casserole
A hearty casserole featuring seasoned minced beef (or lamb) baked in an earthenware tagine, often with onions …
6 net8 total2 fibre65 protein45 fat700 kcal
حناكيش لسان
Beef Tongue Stew with Garlic and Lemon
Beef tongue, slow-cooked until incredibly tender, then sautéed with copious amounts of fresh garlic, chili, an…
6 net8 total2 fibre55 protein55 fat680 kcal
كفتة مشوية
Grilled Kofta Skewers
Seasoned ground beef or lamb, typically mixed with finely chopped parsley and onions, shaped into cylinders an…
6 net8 total2 fibre75 protein60 fat850 kcal
كلاوي
Pan-Fried Beef Kidneys
Beef kidneys, typically sliced and quickly pan-fried with onions, garlic, and bell peppers, along with a robus…
6 net8 total2 fibre58 protein42 fat620 kcal
كبدة مقلية (مش اسكندراني)
Pan-Fried Beef Liver with Garlic and Spices
Thin slices of beef liver quickly pan-fried with liberal amounts of garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, an…
6 net7 total1 fibre50 protein35 fat550 kcal
عجة خضار (بدون دقيق/بطاطس)
Egyptian Herb & Vegetable Frittata (Flour/Potato-Free)
A savory Egyptian frittata (Ejjeh) made with a generous amount of eggs, fresh herbs (parsley, dill, cilantro),…
7 net10 total3 fibre35 protein45 fat550 kcal
قول وفوارغ
Egyptian Offal Stew (Qol wa Fawarigh)
A hearty and robust stew made from a mix of various beef or lamb offal (e.g., stomach, intestines, heart, some…
7 net10 total3 fibre65 protein55 fat780 kcal
شاورما طبق (بدون خبز)
Shawarma Platter (No Bread)
Tender, marinated slices of chicken or beef (or a mix) slow-roasted on a vertical rotisserie, then shaved and …
7 net8 total1 fibre70 protein40 fat650 kcal
كبدة مطبوخة
Stewed Beef Liver (not Alexandrian)
Beef liver stewed in a rich, savory sauce, distinct from the faster Alexandrian preparation. This dish typical…
7 net9 total2 fibre55 protein40 fat600 kcal
مشاوي مشكل
Mixed Grill Platter (Kebab, Kofta, Shish Tawook)
A generous platter featuring a variety of popular grilled meats: succulent lamb or beef cubes (Kebab), spiced …
8 net10 total2 fibre70 protein55 fat800 kcal
قلب مقلي
Pan-fried Beef/Lamb Heart
Tender pieces of beef or lamb heart, pan-fried with onions, garlic, and bell peppers in generous oil or ghee. …
8 net12 total4 fibre58 protein48 fat680 kcal
شوربة سي فود
Seafood Soup
A rich and flavorful Egyptian seafood soup, typically featuring a variety of fresh seafood like shrimp, calama…
8 net10 total2 fibre40 protein30 fat480 kcal
شيش طاووق
Shish Tawook (Chicken Skewers)
Succulent cubes of marinated chicken, often grilled with bell peppers and onions. The marinade is typically yo…
8 net10 total2 fibre80 protein45 fat780 kcal
سخينة (بدون خبز)
Braised Beef/Lamb with Fried Eggs (No Bread)
A traditional Upper Egyptian dish, typically featuring slow-braised beef or lamb in a rich, savory sauce, ofte…
9 net12 total3 fibre70 protein50 fat780 kcal
داوود باشا
Egyptian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Flavorful, tender ground meat meatballs (typically beef or lamb) simmered in a rich, tangy tomato sauce, often…
9 net12 total3 fibre60 protein45 fat650 kcal
كمونية لحمة
Kamounia (Cumin Beef Stew)
A rich and aromatic Egyptian stew featuring tender chunks of beef (or lamb), heavily spiced with cumin, garlic…
9 net12 total3 fibre60 protein40 fat650 kcal
ورق عنب محشي لحمة (بدون أرز)
Keto Warraq Enab (Meat-filled Grape Leaves)
Tender vine leaves are carefully rolled and stuffed with a savory and aromatic mixture of seasoned minced meat…
10 net15 total5 fibre45 protein35 fat500 kcal