Keto Mediterranean Spaghetti
Keto Mediterranean Spaghetti is an easy keto spaghetti recipe with spaghetti squash and a mediterranean veggie pasta sauce. It’s healthy comfort food!
Most of my life, I’ve never followed any specific diets. I’ve just tried to eat as healthfully as possible by including lots of whole grains, fruits and veggies, lean meats, and minimally processed foods.
Things have changed as I’ve gotten older, however. I now suffer from IBS, and have for years without really knowing it, so I’ve changed the way I eat significantly.
As of now, I’m following a gluten-free diet for the most part, and limit my intake of dairy, sugar and processed foods.
I feel a lot better, but I know I still eat too many carbohydrates. I’ve always been a carb addict, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the root of my problems!
I’ve been reading a lot about the keto diet recently, including the cookbook She Does Keto by Gigi Ashworth.
Disclaimer — I received a free copy of this book, but all opinions that I’ve expressed here are my own.
You may know Gigi Ashworth from her blog Gigi Eats Celebrities. Gigi is highly entertaining — let’s get that straight right now. Expect the unexpected! 🙂
Gigi has numerous food intolerances and allergies, including gluten and sugar, so she shares recipes and products that fit her diet.
Her book She Does Keto is a ketogenic guide specifically for women, as women’s bodies process fat differently than men. It also covers how keto can help with a variety of health conditions that affect women.
She Does Keto is broken down into the following chapters:
- Chapter 1: Keto for Women
- Chapter 2: Setting Yourself up for Success
- Chapter 3: Breakfast
- Chapter 4: Sides & Snacks
- Chapter 5: Soups & Salads
- Chapter 6: Vegetarian Main Dishes
- Chapter 7: Seafood & Poultry
- Chapter 8: Beef & Pork
- Chapter 9: Desserts
- Chapter 10: Beverages
- Chapter 11: Sauces & Dressings
The book is full of healthy, delicious recipes that are easy to prepare, and also includes a 21-day meal plan to get you started, as well as list of keto-friendly products and foods that you’ll need to stock your refrigerator and pantry with.
It’s a great way to kick start your keto diet!
What is keto?
The keto diet is a low carb, high fat diet that forces the body to use its fat cells for fuel. The reduction of carbs results in the body going into the metabolic state of ketosis, and becomes very efficient at burning fat for energy.
Ketones are a type of fat produced by the liver during ketosis, which are found to be even more efficient than glucose as fuel for cells.
Is keto healthy?
Previous to my reading, I was skeptical about the keto diet. I wondered how eating large amounts of bacon, red meat, cheese, etc. could be healthy?
Obviously it isn’t.
Healthy fats are essential to the keto diet, which include the following:
- animal fats such as grass fed butter, ghee, and mayonnaise
- avocado
- coconut milk
- nut butters such as almond, cocoa and coconut
- oils like coconut, avocado and olive
- olives
- nuts, such as almonds, pecans, macadamia and walnuts
The higher amount of these healthy fats keep the body feeling full and satisfied.
Keto benefits are weight loss, increased energy, mental clarity, better sleep and even clearer skin!
This keto spaghetti recipe is a prime example of low carb comfort food. Mediterranean spaghetti sauce is filled with veggies like onions, garlic, eggplant and artichoke hearts, with oregano and herbs like fresh basil and oregano.
The sauce includes healthy fats like olive oil and olives, and capers provide a big punch of mediterranean flavor.
This keto spaghetti will leave you asking “who needs pasta??” I truly haven’t missed it since I gave it up last year.
How to make keto spaghetti
Cook your spaghetti squash using one of the methods outlined in my post How to Cook Spaghetti Squash. I used the Instant Pot method for this recipe, and my squash was done at the same time as my sauce.
This mediterranean vegetarian pasta sauce comes together in no time with just a few simple ingredients.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3-5 minutes until softened.
- Add the eggplant and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 5 minutes more, then stir in the tomato purée, tomato paste, olives, basil, oregano, capers, tomato paste and salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook for 5-8 minutes longer until the sauce has thickened as desired.
- Serve over spaghetti squash topped with parsley and parmesan and enjoy!
Recipe tips and substitutions
- Zucchini or hearts of palm noodles may be substituted for the spaghetti squash.
- This recipe is great for meal prep, and the sauce is freezer friendly.
- Make this meal vegan by omitting the parmesan cheese. For added protein, serve with fish or chicken.
More Keto friendly recipes:
Chicken parmesan zucchini boats
Keto Mediterranean Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup diced eggplant
- 2 whole artichoke hearts quartered
- 7.5 ounces tomato purée
- 2 ounces tomato paste optional if you like a thicker sauce
- 1/2 cup olives pitted and coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 3 tablespoons capers
- 16 ounces cooked spaghetti squash
- Grated parmesan for serving (optional)
- Chopped parsley for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti squash using one of the methods from my post How to Cook Spaghetti Squash.
- In a shallow skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3-5 minutes until softened. Add eggplant and cook for 5 minutes more.
- Add the artichoke hearts, tomato purée, tomato paste, if using, olives, basil, oregano, capers, salt and pepper to taste, then stir until well combined. Cook for another 5-8 minutes or until the sauce reaches the desired thickness.
- Add the cooked spaghetti squash to the sauce, or serve the sauce over the squash. Top with grated parmesan and parsley, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe from She Does Keto by Gigi Ashworth.
- Zucchini or hearts of palm noodles may be substituted for the spaghetti squash.
- This recipe is great for meal prep, and the sauce is freezer friendly.
- Make this meal vegan by omitting the parmesan cheese. For added protein, serve with fish or chicken.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
6 Comments on “Keto Mediterranean Spaghetti”
Carbs are an issue for me too. My body always feels better when I cut back on them and healthy fats definitely help keep me full. Loving this keto spaghetti! And sounds like a great cookbook too!
Oh so does mine. I’m doing a better job of cutting them and eating smaller portions these days, so that’s helping a lot!
How easy, yet delicious is this dish? I love pasta meals especially for dinner and it’s one of those meals that is perfect for lazy days when I don’t want to stand hours making it. Seriously delicious 🙂
It’s extremely easy — and thank you!
My body doesn’t do well anymore either with lots of carbs – which is actually largely why I stopped eating mostly vegetarian – too many beans, etc. and they do not sit well with me these days unfortunately! ANYWAY this looks delicious!
I had to give up eating more vegetarian meals for the same reason. My body was rejecting all the beans, lentils, etc. — it is unfortunate!