Low Carb Gluten Free Herb Bread: Cottage Cheese and Almond Flour Loaf
In short
A keto loaf made with cottage cheese instead of wheat flour. You’ll need 1 cup of cottage cheese, 4 large eggs, 1 cup of almond flour, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of mixed or Italian herbs, half a teaspoon of garlic powder and half a teaspoon of salt. Whisk the cottage cheese, eggs and oil until the lumps are gone, mix the dry ingredients in another bowl, combine, then pour into a lined, oiled loaf tin and bake at 350°F (about 170°C) for 30 to 40 minutes. It comes out herby, garlicky and properly bready.
Key points
- Cottage cheese does the heavy lifting. I’m not a huge fan of cottage cheese on its own, but in bread form it works a treat.
- Eight simple ingredients. 1 cup cottage cheese, 4 large eggs, 1 cup almond flour, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp mixed or Italian herbs, ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp salt.
- Herbs and garlic are optional. They’re not essential, but in my honest opinion they help the flavour along.
- Preheat first. Get the oven going at 350°F, or about 170°C, before you start mixing.
- Whisk out the lumps. Beat the cottage cheese, eggs and olive oil together until the cottage cheese lumps disappear, and break up any that are left after you add the dry mix.
- Line and oil the tin. Parchment makes it easier to get the loaf out, and a coating of olive oil helps too. Trim the parchment so it doesn’t catch in the oven.
- Bake 30 to 40 minutes. Use the knife test to make sure there’s no uncooked mix in the middle, then let it cool on a rack.
- Make it your own. More herbs, more salt, or some cheese through it. It’s all personal preference.
It was blowy and horrible outside, so I got back in the kitchen and knocked up a keto bread. This one’s a cottage cheese loaf with almond flour, mixed herbs and garlic. No wheat, no gluten, and it actually tastes like bread, not cardboard.
Method in brief
You’ll need: 1 cup of cottage cheese, 4 large eggs, 1 cup of almond flour, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of mixed or Italian herbs, half a teaspoon of garlic powder and half a teaspoon of salt. Plus two mixing bowls, a mixer or whisk, a loaf tin and some parchment.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (about 170°C).
- Wet mix: put the cottage cheese, eggs and olive oil in a bowl and whisk until the cottage cheese lumps disappear.
- Dry mix: in another bowl, mix the almond flour, baking powder, herbs, salt and garlic powder.
- Combine the two and break up any lumps that are left.
- Tin it: line a loaf tin with parchment, give it a coating of olive oil, then scrape the batter in. Trim any parchment sticking up so it doesn’t catch.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Check it with a knife: it should come out clean, with no uncooked mix on it.
- Cool it on a rack. It’s best once it’s completely cold, if you can wait that long. I couldn’t.
Make it your way
Like all my recipes, it’s down to personal preference. If you like it more herby, add more herbs. If you like it saltier, add more salt. You can stir some cheese through it too. Mine came out with a lovely bready texture. It could’ve risen a bit higher, but it was definitely herby, definitely garlicky and definitely bready.
More low carb bread
If you’re after more ways to keep bread on the menu, try my low carb keto bread that doesn’t taste like eggs, the 90 second keto bread for when you’re in a hurry, avocado flatbread, low carb soft taco or naan flat bread and my low carb flat bread. For something to dunk it in, there’s my keto seafood chowder, and if you want a crunch, have a go at low carb crackers.
Wondering why regular bread is off the menu? Read why I avoid bread, rice and pasta, and grab the free Carb Guide. There’s nothing to buy and nothing to sell. I’m just sharing what worked for me.
New to all this? Watch my story and how I lost 23kg in four months.
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Not medical advice. I'm not a doctor, dietitian or nutritionist, just a bloke telling the story of what worked for me. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or medication.
