What low-carb foods have a satisfying chewy texture?

May 6, 2019 3:04 AM

The crispy-gone-soggy FPP made me realize that I often eat carby snacks because I love that dense chewy texture. What lower-carb foods might satisfy my chewy texture cravings?

There's a particular chewy feeling to a bagel or a thick slice of bread. Or a meringue cookie, dehydrated and dense. But I prefer to eat lower-carb snacks when I can, since they seem to keep me feeling full longer. What lower-carb foods still have that really satisfying chewy texture?

(Chewy meat doesn't really feel the same, in my experience. It doesn't squish right or something, I dunno.)

posted by 168 to Food & Drink (26 answers total)

How about sausages? They have a different texture from ordinary (non-ground) meats, and they can get chewier if you cook them longer.

Deep-fried tofu? Dried fruit?
posted by Umami Dearest at 4:13 AM on May 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

Halloumi is yummy
posted by greta simone at 5:02 AM on May 6, 2019 [6 favorites]

Hit up the biggest Asian market you can, I am almost certain with a little trial and error you can find something you’d love: they have a zillion varieties of tofu/soy snacks, more and less dense, more and less spicy, more and less oily, etc.

They also have a delightful variety of snacks based on gluten, fish, squid, seaweed etc.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:09 AM on May 6, 2019 [2 favorites]

Chewing gum? It's been a long time since was in that market, so I don't know what's new and trendy. I'd also think about meat jerky products many of which are chewy in a not-like-fresh-meat way.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:13 AM on May 6, 2019

If you're willing to put an hour of time into it, make a batch of Fathead Bagels. Lots of recipes out there, and though the ingredients make no sense, the alchemy is pretty amazing. I find them really satisfying with cream cheese and TJs everything bagel seasoning.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 5:26 AM on May 6, 2019 [3 favorites]

Try [vital wheat] gluten. The gluten in bread-y baked goods is largely what's responsible for their chewy texture, albeit it's present in baked goods in a far lower concentration than "literally powdered gluten".

Seitan is a popular item made with it but you'll have to play around with different prep methods until you find the specific texture you're after. Maybe try store-bought seitan to start, albeit you definitely pay for the convenience. If you start with homemade maybe try simmering.
posted by ToddBurson at 5:31 AM on May 6, 2019 [5 favorites]

Chick peas are small but you might like the texture, especially when they're partially roasted. Play around with cooking times.
posted by trig at 5:33 AM on May 6, 2019

Not sure if they’d fit your dietary goals, but I like these baked tofu bites.
posted by FencingGal at 5:43 AM on May 6, 2019

Jerky.
posted by h00py at 6:43 AM on May 6, 2019 [3 favorites]

Put dry cottage cheese curds in ur soups. I rinse off large curd cottage cheese and put those curds in for a noodle substitute. It's important to rinse first, IMO.
posted by waving at 6:55 AM on May 6, 2019

Yep, Jerky.
posted by Wild_Eep at 7:00 AM on May 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

Japanese or Korean fish cake is not at all like fish or meat, but it has a mild flavor and a sort of springy-chewy texture (a little like boba), and it's sort of in the bean zone of "not really low-carb, but still a good protein source too." Not sure if that's a subgenre of chewiness you're into.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:29 AM on May 6, 2019 [4 favorites]

Twizzlers! No carbs. If you hurry, you can get the orange creamsicle flavored ones.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:58 AM on May 6, 2019

Twizzlers have 36g of carbs per 45g serving.
posted by mbrubeck at 8:19 AM on May 6, 2019 [16 favorites]

Don't know if they would work for you as they are fairly high in carbs, but they are a whole fruit - mejool dates?
posted by WeekendJen at 8:30 AM on May 6, 2019

I am eating my breakfast keto eggy casserole right now, and it's got a bit of density from the bottom layer, which is (in a large casserole dish) two rolls of breakfast sausage (I prefer one roll of Hot and one of Regular) crumbled and lightly pre-cooked (so there's no pink left, but stop there) and mixed with 6 eggs and optionally a bit of the keto flour of your choice. Bake that off for 10-15 minutes at 350 until it's solidified pretty well, then top with another 6 eggs beaten with a splash of liquid, plus if you want pre-cooked vegetables or similar in it add those at that time. Top with a couple handfuls shredded cheese. If you cook this until the cheese on top browns you get a second layer with a bit of texture, along with a pretty dense chewy bottom, though I prefer it not too overdone.

I also take this keto bread loaf recipe but spread it out in a baking dish or quarter sheet pan (you can add a little extra water to thin it out some if necessary to get it to spread) more like a flatbread, so all your slices when cut into squares are more "crust" than airy inside, more like ciabatta or pizza bianco. You can even top it with Everything seasoning or the bagel topping of your choice before baking.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:13 AM on May 6, 2019 [2 favorites]

Twizzlers have 36g of carbs

Drat. I misremembered the blurb on the packaging. It was heralding "low fat!!!!!" As in " Low fat but a ton of sugar" because that's so much better. /sarcasm
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:45 AM on May 6, 2019

"Chewy" is an awfully broad net.

Certain kinds of fried tofu.

Tempeh.

Some vegetables can be pretty chewy (e.g
, green beans), as long as they're fresh (not frozen) and not overcooked.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:50 AM on May 6, 2019

Nori (the seaweed they use to wrap sushi). I've taken to buying packs of it for snacking.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:52 AM on May 6, 2019

Some of the Sonoma Creamery cheese crisps say "low carb" on the packet. They may not be low enough carb for you but there are a lot of cheese products like that around, some of which are probably zero carb, and they are pretty chewy.
posted by BibiRose at 10:00 AM on May 6, 2019

Oh yeah, making your own cheese crisps (see also google for hundreds of variations) is super easy (get yourself a silicone baking mat, it's a lifesaver) AND you can play around with the thickness of cheese distribution + cooking temperature + time (plus types of cheese, etc) to develop a texture that appeals to you exactly.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:28 AM on May 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

You could make a meringue cookie with swerve or something instead of sugar, which is low carb.

I have made the fathead pizza crust before and found it pretty convincingly carby tasting.

I find dehydrated coconut chips/slices pretty chewy.

I think raw or lightly roasted almonds are pretty chewy.
posted by euphoria066 at 3:38 PM on May 6, 2019

Oh man yeah dried squid, dried kelp, halloumi, fresh moz, seitan, biltong, real pemmican, etc. etc.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:01 PM on May 6, 2019

i've been keto for a few years and my go-to's for chewy are fried tofu puffs, or fresh coconut chunks. The coconut is not chewy in the same way as bread of course, but it's delicious and makes my jaws work hard, which i really miss otherwise, as most keto foods don't offer much teeth resistance. I also like the chewiness of Quest bars and the like.
posted by PardonMyFrench at 11:23 PM on May 6, 2019

Atkins makes a selection of low carb bars and candy. The coconut bars are densely chewy.

The Great Low Carb Bread Company makes a variety of breads and bagels. I used to get the plain bread pretty regularly when I was doing low carb. It is good toasted.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 2:54 AM on May 7, 2019

Strawberry Sugar Free Jello. 10 cal per 1/2c serving and 0 carbs. Easy to make a ton and have it in the fridge waiting.
posted by pdxhiker at 12:33 PM on May 7, 2019