These low carb Parmesan baskets are so simple to make. It's basically a bowl made out of cheese! Fill with a salad or even a chili. Eat the contents, then eat the bowl! A great low carb and gluten free dish.
You can make mini bowls or medium sized ones. Mini bowls could make a pretty and delicious appetizer.
This is for cheese fans and is a great low carb/gluten free way to serve a salad! Using Parmesan that is cooked in a pan. You could add herbs and spices to the cheese mixture too. Make it your own and have a play around with the flavours. I had this for lunch today and in the bowl put cherry tomatoes, baby mozzarellas, olives, salad leaves and a handful of basil leaves. As well as looking bright and colourful it was tasty and delicious.
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CARBS IN PARMESAN CHEESE
Although there are very few carbs in cheese, some do contain a higher carb content than others. Parmesan cheese is very low in carbohydrates with 0.9 grams in a 1oz (28g) serving.
If you are vegetarian, Parmesan cheese is not suitable for you as it's made with animal rennet. There are a few vegetarian Parmesan cheese brands available though, so read the labels carefully. If it does not have vegetarian on it, it's not a vegetarian Parmesan.
INGREDIENTS
You just need one ingredient for this recipe. Parmesan. That's it!
Fresh parmesan is preferable but you could use the grated parmesan sold in supermarkets. The grated powdery dry Parmesan cheese is not suitable.
HOW TO MAKE A PARMESAN BASKET
You don't have to make a bowl with this, you could cook the Parmesan and then leave it to cool in another shape. Break off pieces to put over salad or soup. Or just nibble on it as a snack. Cheesy goodness!
Scatter about ½ cup of Parmesan in a frying pan on a medium heat. Cook for 2-3 mins on one side, then flip over to cook the other side.
Remove from pan and place on a bowl or muffin tin. Press around the bowl and leave to cool. You could use a smaller bowl.
Once cool, remove the Parmesan baskets
Fill with dips, salad or anything you want!
STORAGE
These parmesan baskets can be made ahead of filling and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will last up to 5-7 days unfilled. Once the are filled the storage time reduces depending upon the filling as anything wet, like a dip, will start to moisten the cheese basket if left overnight.
VARIATIONS
You could add flavors to the Parmesan cheese before cooking the baskets. For a spicier basket add chili or cayenne pepper. Add dried herbs like thyme or oregano.
FILLING SUGGESTIONS
The parmesan baskets make a delicious snack by themselves but they are better filled. A few filling suggestions are:
- Spinach and artichoke cream cheese dip
- Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
- Caprese salad with mini mozzarella balls
- Crab dip
- Guacamole
- Shrimp cocktail
The possibilities are endless! Let use know what filling you prefer.
OTHER LOW CARB CHEESE APPETIZERS TO ENJOY
Boursin Garlic & Herb Cheese Spread
This post was originally posted in September 2011. We have updated the photographs and content but the recipe is untouched.
Low Carb Parmesan Baskets
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Ingredients
- 2 cups Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Heat a frying pan on a low to medium heat.
- Scatter about ½ cup of Parmesan in the frying pan and covering it in a thin layer.
- Cook for 2-3 mins on one side, then flip over to cook the other side.
- Remove from pan and place on a bowl or muffin tin. Press around the bowl and leave to cool. (I used a small soup bowl). You could use a smaller bowl. Or fashion it into another shape. Rather like a glass blower!
- Remove the Parmesan cheese basket and fill with filling of your choice.
- Eat and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
