What Italian Food Can I Eat On A Low Carb Diet?

Savouring Italy, Low-Carb Style: Your Carluccio's Deli & Larder Guide

Many people believe a low-carb diet means turning your back on the vibrant, authentic flavours of Italian cooking. Assolutamente no! 

At Carluccio's, we celebrate the best of Italy, and the good news is that many of the essential, high-quality ingredients in our online shop are perfectly suited to a low-carb lifestyle. Forget the carbs and focus on the beautiful regional produce that forms the true heart of Italian cuisine.

Here is your guide to building a sensational low-carb Italian larder using products from the our shop.

1. The Low-Carb Flavour Foundation: Oils, Vinegars, & Pesto

Every great Italian meal begins with outstanding oil. These products are naturally low in carbs and are essential for adding richness and depth.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Calabria is cold-pressed and bursting with flavour. Use it generously for cooking, dressing, and finishing your dishes.

• Balsamic Vinegar: A small amount of aged Balsamic Vinegar from Modena adds a beautiful, complex sweetness to salads, roasted meats, or even a simple cheese platter. Use it as a glaze rather than a dressing to keep portions (and carbs) controlled.

• Pesto: While you'll skip the pasta, a true Italian Pesto is essentially a mix of basil, pine nuts, hard cheese, and oil. Use it as a sauce for roasted chicken or fish, or stir a spoonful into your scrambled eggs for a Mediterranean breakfast.

How to Use: Drizzle our oil over grilled vegetables (like asparagus or courgettes) or use it to make a quick dressing with a splash of balsamic for an Italian side salad.

2. The Protein Powerhouse: Sauces & Spreads

While we love our traditional pasta, the sauces and ragùs themselves are often incredibly low in carbs, especially when paired with a non-starchy alternative.

• Hearty Ragùs: Our Ragù Di Cinghiale (Wild Boar Ragu) or Ragù Di Chianina (Tuscan Beef Sauce) are intensely meaty and flavourful. Instead of serving over pasta:

  • Spoon over zucchini noodles (zoodles) or spaghetti squash.

  • Use as the rich filling for a low-carb aubergine or courgette lasagna.

  • Serve over grilled or baked chicken breast.

• 'Nduja - Spicy Salami Spread: This Calabrian delicacy is a rich, spicy, and very low-carb cured meat. It’s essentially fat and flavour! Stir a little into your keto-friendly tomato sauces, melt onto grilled meats, or simply spread a small amount onto a piece of low-carb crisp-bread.

3. Savoury Starters: Antipasti Essentials

The antipasti section of any Italian meal is inherently low-carb, focusing on cured meats, cheese, and preserved vegetables.

• Olives: Keep a jar of high-quality Italian olives, like our Peranzana olives, in your pantry. They are fantastic for snacking, adding to salads, or cooking into chicken dishes.

• Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Artichokes: Look for these preserved in oil (and always check the ingredients for added sugar, although high-quality Italian producers usually keep it clean). They add an incredible burst of deep, concentrated flavour to any low-carb dish.

4. The High-Fat Finish: Coffee & Confectionery (The Sensible Way!)

Sweet treats are the hardest part of a low-carb diet, but a quality cup of coffee is always a perfect, carb-free Italian finish.

• Carluccio's Italian Coffee: Enjoy a true Italian espresso or an Americano using our signature roasted beans. Coffee itself is carb-free, so a strong, dark cup is the perfect end to your meal. (Just remember to enjoy your milk and sugar alternatives if you use them!)

Low-carb doesn't mean less delicious. By choosing the right authentic ingredients from the Carluccio's larder, you can continue to enjoy the true spirit and flavour of Italy every day!