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Low Carb Yum 5-Ingredient Keto: 120+ Easy Recipes
People across the country are discovering low-carb and keto diets and finally achieving weight loss success, but one of the biggest struggles for newcomers is finding easy recipes. Everyone wants to get in and out of the kitchen fast, and that's where the wildly popular Low Carb Yum blog comes to the rescue. Creator Lisa MarcAurele turned to the low-carb lifestyle herself when treatments for Graves' disease, a thyroid autoimmune disorder, changed her metabolism and caused unwanted weight gain. She began creating and sharing delicious recipes, and now Low Carb Yum is one of the most popular recipe resources on the internet, with more than 1 million Facebook followers. Lisa knows that easy and great-tasting recipes are key to success, and it doesn't get much simpler than recipes with 5 ingredients or less, like Almond Flour Pancakes, Chicken Chili, Turnip Fries, Rib-eye Steaks in Red Wine Sauce, and Shrimp Scampi, to name just a few, as well as no-guilt desserts like Chocolate Fudge Balls and Almond Butter Cookies.
256 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2020
161 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 5, 2020
This is a fairly good keto cookbook that does keep to its promise of offering recipes that are 5 ingredients or less (not counting cooking oil, salt and pepper). They are generally not particularly healthy ingredients in my book, which I know isn't supposed to be the point anymore but just seems wrong to me. As an example, one dish is a giant slab of ham on top of some collard greens mixed with olive oil, heavy cream and garlic. Also, since there are so few ingredients there are not a lot of flavors in most of the dishes. In some cases, extra fat calories are added to recipes that wouldn't ordinarily need them just to up the fat calorie content, like fish that is cooked in an entire stick of butter. MarcAurele notes that if you're using keto to lose weight you still need to watch calories, though. She says that the extremely high fat content of the recipes will keep you from needing to eat much. I can't say if that's true or not.
The author has been blogging about low-carb cooking for 10 years now and says that she used low-carb dieting to lose weight after she had her thyroid destroyed to treat Graves Disease. She did lose weight and has kept it off through low-carb dieting (including keto at times) but she also admits in the book that she is suffering from new health problems and autoimmune illnesses so she has recently switched to the AIP diet in addition. I'm not sure that speaks well to the health benefits of this kind of diet, personally.
All that said, there are lovely color photos of many the recipes (perhaps about 25% of them). Basic nutritional information is provided for each recipe. The author goes into information about keto diets, dairy substitutions, sugar alternatives and such. Many of the recipes seemed tasty and simple. With the exception of the desserts section, most of them rely on pretty standard, real foods (almond meal, meat, heavy cream, cabbage, broccoli, etc.) and liquid stevia. The desserts sections utilizes a lot of processed keto sweeteners that I can neither pronounce nor spell but they look tasty.
If you eat keto and enjoy the Standard American Diet kind of food, this will be a great match.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
The author has been blogging about low-carb cooking for 10 years now and says that she used low-carb dieting to lose weight after she had her thyroid destroyed to treat Graves Disease. She did lose weight and has kept it off through low-carb dieting (including keto at times) but she also admits in the book that she is suffering from new health problems and autoimmune illnesses so she has recently switched to the AIP diet in addition. I'm not sure that speaks well to the health benefits of this kind of diet, personally.
All that said, there are lovely color photos of many the recipes (perhaps about 25% of them). Basic nutritional information is provided for each recipe. The author goes into information about keto diets, dairy substitutions, sugar alternatives and such. Many of the recipes seemed tasty and simple. With the exception of the desserts section, most of them rely on pretty standard, real foods (almond meal, meat, heavy cream, cabbage, broccoli, etc.) and liquid stevia. The desserts sections utilizes a lot of processed keto sweeteners that I can neither pronounce nor spell but they look tasty.
If you eat keto and enjoy the Standard American Diet kind of food, this will be a great match.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
April 28, 2020
Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion. I loved this simplistic cooking approach, and the recipes were absolutely mouth watering. I have a variety of food interests such as vegan, vegetarian , and keto style cooking. This cookbook really shows off the keto style well with a very simplistic approach. Only five or six ingredients per recipe, on over one hundred recipes. I deal with digestion issues due to gall bladder removal, and immune disease from a poorly functioning thyroid so eating better is my only option. This makes not only eating better easier but also looks absolutely delicious.
What did I like? Almost every recipe has a picture... an amazing feat since most recipe books don’t deliver this. Also the cookbook adds some easy Filipino style recipes which I’m absolutely in love with. All recipes have very simplistic approach, and very few ingredients. Noodle options? Use a spiraling tool for zucchini. I loved the cookbook! Easy to use and beautiful pictures.
Would I recommend or buy? Yes, this was an amazingly simple look at keto recipes, that look positively yummy. I want easy to use recipes that deliver yummy food, that don’t take too long. The author delivered. I would love my own copy.
Thoughts for the author? I would love a paper copy of this. Absolutely gorgeous and simplistic book that would deliver hours of yummy meals. Congratulations on your new release! Five star cookbook!
What did I like? Almost every recipe has a picture... an amazing feat since most recipe books don’t deliver this. Also the cookbook adds some easy Filipino style recipes which I’m absolutely in love with. All recipes have very simplistic approach, and very few ingredients. Noodle options? Use a spiraling tool for zucchini. I loved the cookbook! Easy to use and beautiful pictures.
Would I recommend or buy? Yes, this was an amazingly simple look at keto recipes, that look positively yummy. I want easy to use recipes that deliver yummy food, that don’t take too long. The author delivered. I would love my own copy.
Thoughts for the author? I would love a paper copy of this. Absolutely gorgeous and simplistic book that would deliver hours of yummy meals. Congratulations on your new release! Five star cookbook!
May 1, 2020
4-1/4 stars: I am on the Keto Diet and like anyone else, I am always looking for fast and easy meals. I have been doing a lazy Keto diet for a year. My A1C went from a 12 down to currently a 5.0 … I am considered diabetes free ….I have lost 50 lbs …my joints don’t ache …my gut does not burn …no more heartburn and mad dashes to the washroom …and my internal heat wave has subsided considerably. Is this a lifestyle for all? Well, it is if you physically hurt and life just sucks …but, be prepared …because it is a life change. Like any other diet, if you go off it and binge again, you will gain the weight back! This diet is doable! You can go to restaurants and order something that is Keto friendly. If you have a sweet tooth that needs to be scratched, well there is something there for you too. I brought my DH on the program (just because I didn’t want to cook 2 meals …and he needed to lose some weight) He is a very lazy Keto …he still drinks alcohol …has bread now and then and has still managed to lose 30 lbs. This author has taken a few steps more than other authors and made clearer about micros and how important they are and need to be in balance for the diet work. I highly recommend downloading a micros app …it was indispensable in calculating the macros. What I took away from this book: what interested me the most was the breakfast dishes. I want something that is portable for DH to take to work. This author also has a Keto friendly blog and surprise, surprise I have already been using some of her recipes in a search and find! I look forward to more from this author and I will be using her blog more and more
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased reviews
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased reviews
August 12, 2021
As someone who has eaten keto on and off for over two decades, I'm always game to try a new cookbook. I've used keto to "cure" my autoimmune disorder, or put it into remission with no traces of the disease. So, I'm a fan.
I follow strict keto, one that's approved by my nutritionist. So I'm always surprised when keto cookbooks offer advice about net carbs (removing fibers from your carb grams to lower your carb amounts for the day), or suggesting that low carb is the same thing as keto (it's not). Therefore, in a keto cookbook, there should be zero conversations about eating a diet with 150g of carbs, a day. That's not keto, and that's not low carb, either.
There were a lot of knowledge bits shared in the introductory chapters that put me off. Like substituting flavored coconut oil for butter, or almond milk for heavy cream (on NO planet is almond milk keto; it's way too high in carbs).
So, the technical aspects of this book? Not great. This isn't technically a keto cookbook, but a low-carb one.
On to the recipes.
Most of the recipes, as already shared, were not keto but low carb. On a keto diet, the fats in a should far exceed both protein and carbs, or else you won't get enough fat. Some recipes, the carb counts were so high for one portion, they would've blown my entire day of carbs.
Some recipes were misnamed; I think perhaps to entice folks, but upon reading them, I felt deceived. Breakfast Pizza isn't breakfast, it's an omelette (or maybe a quiche, based on how the author suggests cooking it).
Of the recipes themselves, none were earth-shattering, new to me, or put in my stash for future meals. The photos, however, were beautiful and enticing.
I've given this book three stars, as I start all books at three and go from there. I didn't feel there was anything harmful or worry worthy to deduct a star, but there also wasn't anything in this cookbook that made me want to buy it or recommend to others, either.
I follow strict keto, one that's approved by my nutritionist. So I'm always surprised when keto cookbooks offer advice about net carbs (removing fibers from your carb grams to lower your carb amounts for the day), or suggesting that low carb is the same thing as keto (it's not). Therefore, in a keto cookbook, there should be zero conversations about eating a diet with 150g of carbs, a day. That's not keto, and that's not low carb, either.
There were a lot of knowledge bits shared in the introductory chapters that put me off. Like substituting flavored coconut oil for butter, or almond milk for heavy cream (on NO planet is almond milk keto; it's way too high in carbs).
So, the technical aspects of this book? Not great. This isn't technically a keto cookbook, but a low-carb one.
On to the recipes.
Most of the recipes, as already shared, were not keto but low carb. On a keto diet, the fats in a should far exceed both protein and carbs, or else you won't get enough fat. Some recipes, the carb counts were so high for one portion, they would've blown my entire day of carbs.
Some recipes were misnamed; I think perhaps to entice folks, but upon reading them, I felt deceived. Breakfast Pizza isn't breakfast, it's an omelette (or maybe a quiche, based on how the author suggests cooking it).
Of the recipes themselves, none were earth-shattering, new to me, or put in my stash for future meals. The photos, however, were beautiful and enticing.
I've given this book three stars, as I start all books at three and go from there. I didn't feel there was anything harmful or worry worthy to deduct a star, but there also wasn't anything in this cookbook that made me want to buy it or recommend to others, either.
September 9, 2023
I was going through my NetGalley books yesterday and I discovered a few that I had read but forgot to review, and I found this gem that I had forgotten to add to my NetGalley list (sorry!). It just so happens that while I am not on the KETO program, but I have been trying to find recipes and ways to eat fewer carbs to help me with my diabetes.
This book is a cookbook, not a novel or true fiction in the sense of reading a person's biography or autobiography; however, the Introduction in the front tells Lisa's story of how she used to eat ANYTHING she wanted but never gained an ounce (jealous!). But, that didn't end up being a good thing for her after all because in her mid-twenties she gained weight quickly due to an overactive thyroid. She was eventually diagnosed with Grave's disease. Her motto is "keep it simple" so that's why the 5-Ingredient recipes which I love. But her story is encouraging and inspiring.
There are recipes galore in every type of food one could ever want: main courses, desserts, appetizers, breakfast meals, side dishes, soups, salads and so on.
What I really love about this cookbook is that it gives everything a person would want to know about the recipes: prep time, cook time, total time, servings and (of course) the recipe itself. Then (my favorite part) it gives the NUTRITIONAL DATA.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Harvest for a free e-ARC of this wonderful cookbook in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
This book is a cookbook, not a novel or true fiction in the sense of reading a person's biography or autobiography; however, the Introduction in the front tells Lisa's story of how she used to eat ANYTHING she wanted but never gained an ounce (jealous!). But, that didn't end up being a good thing for her after all because in her mid-twenties she gained weight quickly due to an overactive thyroid. She was eventually diagnosed with Grave's disease. Her motto is "keep it simple" so that's why the 5-Ingredient recipes which I love. But her story is encouraging and inspiring.
There are recipes galore in every type of food one could ever want: main courses, desserts, appetizers, breakfast meals, side dishes, soups, salads and so on.
What I really love about this cookbook is that it gives everything a person would want to know about the recipes: prep time, cook time, total time, servings and (of course) the recipe itself. Then (my favorite part) it gives the NUTRITIONAL DATA.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Harvest for a free e-ARC of this wonderful cookbook in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
September 30, 2022
Eating healthier is a goal I strive to meet daily, so I decided to start watching the amount of carbs I consume. I needed some inspiration for meals and headed to the cookbook section of the library where I found tons of options. I love cookbooks with easy recipes and photographs. The Low Carb Yum books caught my eye.
Lisa MarcAurele created easy to prepare, low carb recipes that satisfy your hunger. Each recipe features prep time, cook time and serving size. The recipes also contain nutritional data so you can easily track your daily carbs. The cookbooks have every meal covered from breakfast to dessert.
I made the cheeseburger casserole and it was a hit. I also love the different dressing recipes to jazz up my salads. The wide array of different cuisines covered in the books makes meal time fun for me again. If you are looking for new recipe ideas, check out the cookbook section in your local library branch.
Low Carb Yum cookbooks are available at your library in print and on cloudLibrary in eBook format. Happy Reading!
Availability: Book; eBook in cloudLibrary
Rating: ***** Stars (I loved it)
Reviewer: Dione, Area Librarian
Lisa MarcAurele created easy to prepare, low carb recipes that satisfy your hunger. Each recipe features prep time, cook time and serving size. The recipes also contain nutritional data so you can easily track your daily carbs. The cookbooks have every meal covered from breakfast to dessert.
I made the cheeseburger casserole and it was a hit. I also love the different dressing recipes to jazz up my salads. The wide array of different cuisines covered in the books makes meal time fun for me again. If you are looking for new recipe ideas, check out the cookbook section in your local library branch.
Low Carb Yum cookbooks are available at your library in print and on cloudLibrary in eBook format. Happy Reading!
Availability: Book; eBook in cloudLibrary
Rating: ***** Stars (I loved it)
Reviewer: Dione, Area Librarian
May 25, 2021
Nothing overly new, but at one point in time I had a moment of "egh" When a picture of...halibut? presented itself, swimming in a pool of butter. I kid you not. Recipe called for 4 tablespoons of butter. Sure looked like more on the bowl/plate.
That aside, if you are into simple, kind of basic recipes that just so happen to be Keto, you'll probably love this book. It doesn't have anything too crazy. If you aren't aaallll about the heavy fat content I am pretty comfortable saying that you can reduce and swap out a lot of things. However, if you've read numerous other Keto recipe books...this is more of the same. I can't say there is a single recipe in here I would use that I don't already have a variation of from somewhere else. Minus the chicken pesto one. That one reminds me of a chicken salad sandwich, minus the bread and load on the mayo.
For what it is, I'd say it's a very good recipe book for beginners who don't want to spend hours and the dollars to give Keto a try.
That aside, if you are into simple, kind of basic recipes that just so happen to be Keto, you'll probably love this book. It doesn't have anything too crazy. If you aren't aaallll about the heavy fat content I am pretty comfortable saying that you can reduce and swap out a lot of things. However, if you've read numerous other Keto recipe books...this is more of the same. I can't say there is a single recipe in here I would use that I don't already have a variation of from somewhere else. Minus the chicken pesto one. That one reminds me of a chicken salad sandwich, minus the bread and load on the mayo.
For what it is, I'd say it's a very good recipe book for beginners who don't want to spend hours and the dollars to give Keto a try.
April 28, 2020
I'm dabbling into the KETO options and having this easy to follow cook book and guide is a great addition to helping me make better choices! The photos are great in this book.
I have to be honest, having it on my kindle - the format was completely off. Even playing with my setting, I couldn't get it to read smoothly or display in a way that was easy on the eyes or easy to follow as I was trying to figure out the ingredients, method & all around process to create something. Hopefully in the paper version, there are more spaces between paragraphs and the flow is smoother.
The info was great, the layout not so much. So for a reviewer to get the full experience and rate it truthfully is hard in my opinion.
Thank you so much Houghton Mifflin Harcourt & NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have to be honest, having it on my kindle - the format was completely off. Even playing with my setting, I couldn't get it to read smoothly or display in a way that was easy on the eyes or easy to follow as I was trying to figure out the ingredients, method & all around process to create something. Hopefully in the paper version, there are more spaces between paragraphs and the flow is smoother.
The info was great, the layout not so much. So for a reviewer to get the full experience and rate it truthfully is hard in my opinion.
Thank you so much Houghton Mifflin Harcourt & NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 9, 2020
I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was very excited for this cookbook because I wanted to get back to eating keto. For someone that doesn’t really enjoy cooking, 8 like that these recipes hav3 very minimal ingredients and they are very easy to make. Well, most of them.
I’m a visual person, and I appreciate when there are pictures to go with each recipe. It helps me visualize a bit better.
My only criticism at this point, is that I did try out a couple recipes and they are lacking in flavour. They may not have tasted how I imagined them to taste. But I’ll try a few more and just get a bit more creative with the spices.
I was very excited for this cookbook because I wanted to get back to eating keto. For someone that doesn’t really enjoy cooking, 8 like that these recipes hav3 very minimal ingredients and they are very easy to make. Well, most of them.
I’m a visual person, and I appreciate when there are pictures to go with each recipe. It helps me visualize a bit better.
My only criticism at this point, is that I did try out a couple recipes and they are lacking in flavour. They may not have tasted how I imagined them to taste. But I’ll try a few more and just get a bit more creative with the spices.
October 18, 2020
It's rare that I give a cookbook 5 stars, but I loved this simple, straightforward low-carb cookbook that only requires 5 ingredients per recipe. I marked lots of the recipes to try. So far, I've tried several that were easy, tasty, and didn't require weird ingredients. My favorites so far are "Egg roll in a bowl" and "Filipino Chicken Adobo." These are two that I found to be very easy and very good, and will likely become recipes that I make on a regular basis going forward. I am definitely a 5-ingredient kind of cook, and I've recently read a lot about the low-carb diet/lifestyle, so these recipes will help a lot.
April 28, 2020
Loved this book and all the recipes in it. I have been following the low-carb lifestyle for almost two years now. I love the fact that this cookbook doesn't call for a lot of ingredients especially ingredients that most people don't keep in their cabinets or refrigerators. These recipes all look tasty (love the pictures) and I can't wait to try some of them out.
I appreciate the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, & NetGalley allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
I appreciate the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, & NetGalley allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
February 2, 2021
I have been on a keto lifestyle on and off for a few years when I needed to lose weight. It’s always done wonders for me and I love trying out new recipes. I loved this keto cook book due to the simplicity of the directions, as well as the colorful pictures and descriptions of each dish. I like that the ingredients are simplistic and showing that less can be more. Overall I can’t wait to start making some of these recipes staples in my kitchen. I will definitely be recommending this cook book with my fellow Keto moms!
April 19, 2020
I've tried one recipe and man it was easy. I didn't particularly love the avocado deviled eggs but it was good. With 5 ingredients, it was easy to find a recipe where I had all the ingredients. Course, I did end up shopping online to get additional ingredients to try more recipes. I learned a lot about all the natural sweeteners out on the market. I hope to like coconut oil and monkfruit sweetener.
May 22, 2020
Vislabākā sadaļa grāmatā - idejas, kā aizvietot tik ierastos kartupeļus, griķus un rīsus, respektīvi, ko pagatavot kā piedevas pie salātiem un gaļas. Daudzas receptes ir bezjēdzīgas - svaigie gurķu salāti ar krējumu un dillēm? Nu var jau būt, ka kādam iesācējam un kādam, kas ir pārticis tikai no McDonald burgeriem, tas noderēs, bet pārējie visdrīzāk sen jau māk to pagatavot, tāpēc nav nepieciešama recepšu grāmata.
April 8, 2020
I will be making several of these recipes as soon as I can get the ingredients. I have followed Lisa online for a long time and was so glad to see her offer a cookbook. I particularly appreciate that she uses a limited number of ingredients and there's nothing super complicated about the recipes. Very glad I added this book to my collection.
May 16, 2020
This is exactly what I was looking for - easy to follow directions, pictures, and a variety of recipes. Most keto books I’ve read lists all the high fat recipes so it’s nice to find a few where the author offers healthier recipes incorporating other ways to get fats in meals. So this is a keeper! I borrowed this from my library to try and will be purchasing a copy!
March 17, 2021
I finished reading The No-Guesswork Diet by Dr. Rameck Hunt and my husband and I decided to try a Keto light diet.
This book spoke to us in the store because the recipes are 5-Ingredients.
The recipes are simple and delicious. We make a meal plan every week and every dinner we make is from this book!
I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes tasty, simple meals.
This book spoke to us in the store because the recipes are 5-Ingredients.
The recipes are simple and delicious. We make a meal plan every week and every dinner we make is from this book!
I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes tasty, simple meals.
May 5, 2020
Great book, nice and easy recipes. Very well organized and colorful. The recipes look pretty good even for who is not doing keto. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
April 26, 2024
If you have an eating disorder some of the words used to describe food in this book may be triggering. Avoid reading the descriptions and just try the recipes. I’m still going to try a few. Also, not a lot of substitutions and if you don’t like bacon then don’t bother
April 7, 2020
Disappointed
Very few common recipes not much here to use for every day cooking wish I would of just kept my money and searched on line
Very few common recipes not much here to use for every day cooking wish I would of just kept my money and searched on line
May 4, 2020
A great cookbook for someone who is looking for easy Keto recipes. Each recipe gives the macros, which is very helpful for someone who is counting. Very good recipes.
June 4, 2020
A great collection of low-carb keto recipes. I'm excited to try them out!
September 6, 2020
Loved the recipes in this low carb cookbook. The recipes were easy to read and follow. The minimal ingredient list makes these recipes ideal for chefs of any level. Healthy and tasty recipes!
September 29, 2020
Keto in 5-ingredients some vegetarian and vegan keto recipes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2020
I am not sticking to a Keto diet, but I want to reduce my carb intake for health reasons. I've made more recipes from this cookbook this year than any other newer cookbook!
February 8, 2022
There are what look like some good recipes in this book. A lot of the recipes have pictures although not all, but all have the nutritional information included which is important to me.
March 25, 2025
Another good recipe book to simplify one’s pallet and cook clean. 5 star
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews