This easy Oysters Rockefeller recipe is always a hit. Topped with creamy spinach and breadcrumbs that get hot and golden under the broiler.
Oysters Rockefeller is a classic oyster dish loaded with butter, parsley, and other flavorful ingredients With its rich, decadent taste, you may be wondering if you can still enjoy Oysters Rockefeller on a ketogenic diet.
The short answer is – it depends. Traditional Oysters Rockefeller recipes are not keto-friendly due to certain high-carb ingredients. However, the dish can be adapted to fit into a low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet.
This article will break down the carb count and ingredients that make this dish potentially non-keto-friendly. We’ll also provide tips for making a keto-approved version at home. Let’s dive in!
Traditional Oysters Rockefeller Nutrition
First let’s look at the basic nutrition facts for a standard Oysters Rockefeller recipe
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Total Carbs: Approximately 9g net carbs per medium oyster
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Fat: Roughly 5-8g per oyster
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Protein Around 3-5g per oyster
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Calories: About 50-70 calories per oyster
As you can see, the carb count can quickly add up when eating multiple oysters. The ingredients commonly used in Oysters Rockefeller are what tip it over into non-keto territory.
Ingredients That Make It Non-Keto Friendly
Here are some of the main ingredients that give traditional Oysters Rockefeller too many carbs for keto:
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Breadcrumbs: Standard breadcrumbs have around 15g net carbs per 1⁄4 cup. Panko breadcrumbs cut it down slightly to around 10g per 1⁄4 cup. Either way, using carb-heavy breadcrumbs significantly increases the carb count.
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Flour: Even a small amount of all-purpose flour or other grain-based thickening agents can add carbohydrates.
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Wine: Sweet wines like sherry add sugar and carbohydrates. Even dry wines contain residual sugars, so wine is limited on keto.
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Parsley: Fresh parsley seems innocent, but 1⁄4 cup chopped parsley has nearly 4g net carbs.
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Spinach: Spinach is healthy but packed with carbs at 1g net carb per cup raw. Only small amounts can fit into keto recipes.
Tips for Making Keto Oysters Rockefeller
Luckily, with a few simple ingredient swaps, it’s easy to transform Oysters Rockefeller into a keto-friendly appetizer:
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Replace breadcrumbs with pork rinds – Crushed pork rinds add that same crunch without the carbs.
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Use almond or coconut flour instead of wheat flour – Much lower in carbohydrates than regular flour.
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Skip the wine or use dry white wine – Dry whites have fewer residual sugars than sweet wine. Or avoid altogether.
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Use low-carb veggies like celery or fennel – Opt for lower carb veggies instead of high-carb options like spinach or parsley.
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Add extra butter and cream – Up the fat content to make it richer and more keto.
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Garnish with bacon – Everything is better with bacon! Adds fat, crunch, and flavor.
Keto Oysters Rockefeller Recipe
Here is a sample keto Oysters Rockefeller recipe:
Ingredients:
- 24 medium oysters, shucked
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1⁄4 cup almond flour
- 1⁄4 cup pork rinds, crushed fine
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1⁄4 cup celery, diced
- 2 tbsp green onion, sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange oysters on a baking sheet.
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In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, almond flour, crushed pork rinds, butter, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper until well combined.
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Top each oyster with 1 tsp of cream cheese mixture.
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Bake oysters for 10-12 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden brown.
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Garnish with lemon juice, celery, green onions, and bacon crumbles if desired. Enjoy!
The Verdict on Keto Oysters Rockefeller
Traditional Oysters Rockefeller recipes may be too high in carbohydrates to fit a ketogenic diet. However, with smart substitutions like pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs and lower-carb vegetables, you can easily create a keto-approved version at home.
Taking the time to adjust the ingredients allows you to still enjoy the indulgent, savory flavors of this classic appetizer while staying within your daily carb limit on keto. Just be mindful of portion sizes, as the calorie count can still be high when dining out. Overall, a homemade keto Oysters Rockefeller recipe can be a delicious occasional treat for keto seafood lovers.
What are the ingredients in oysters Rockefeller?
- Oysters: You’ll need two dozen live oysters in the shell.
- Shallots: Finely mince two shallots.
- Spinach: I used real spinach, but fresh baby spinach will also work.
- Cream Cheese: Buy 1/3-less fat cream cheese. The Philadelphia brand is my favorite.
- Half-and-Half Cream: I like half-and-half better than heavy cream because it’s lighter.
- Cheese: Romano or Parmesan will do if you don’t have grated Pecorino Romano.
- Panko gets crispier than regular breadcrumbs. To keep this oyster recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free panko.
How do you prepare oysters to eat?
The hardest part is shucking oysters, although most seafood stores will do it for you. There are videos all over the internet that show you how to do it if yours won’t. Here’s how I shuck them:
- Rinse and clean the oysters.
- Carefully open the oysters while wearing gloves and placing them on a dish towel. Cut under the oyster with an oyster knife to get it out of its shell.
- Throw away the top shell and put the oysters on sheet pans. Put them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat them.
Charbroiled Oysters – Chargrilled Oysters – Better than Oysters Rockefeller – Low Carb Keto Seafood
FAQ
How many carbs are in Oysters Rockefeller?
Can you eat oysters on a keto diet?
Are oysters high in carbs?
What is the difference between oysters and Oysters Rockefeller?
Are oysters keto friendly?
Oysters are low in carbs when eaten in moderate amounts, so are generally keto-friendly. However, if you eat a large number of oysters and are on a stricter keto diet, you might find that they provide too many carbs. Why do oysters contain carbs? Most meats from animals and fish don’t contain any carbs.
Are oysters keto-friendly?
You might be surprised to hear that oysters contain some carbs, so it takes some sleuthing to determine if they’re keto-friendly. Oysters are considered keto-friendly. Oysters do contain small amounts of carbohydrates and like many low-carb food, eating large amounts can make them not keto-friendly.
Are Rockefeller oysters good?
“The oysters Rockefeller were good but the oyster was very small. I ordered two lobster tails, market” more 9. Peter’s Fine Dining
Is Oysters Rockefeller a restaurant classic?
When it comes to restaurant classics, Oysters Rockefeller is the king of seafood appetizers. You can still find it on many restaurant menus, but it’s slowly disappearing from the culinary scene. The truth is it’s easy to make and you’ll amaze your friends and family with this ah-mazing appetizer.