Pesto Pull-Apart Low Carb Bread

This low-carb pesto pull apart bread is perfect for your dinner table this party season, or you can freeze and it makes a great keto snack for work lunches.

No need to play tug of war over this one though, there’s plenty for everyone! It’s so seriously good it’d fool any carb loving bread monster into thinking it’s the real deal! The pesto makes it absolutely delicious. Served as is or stuff with your favourite keto filling. Simple Mediterranean flavours like avocado and tomato work really well with it.

Preparation time

Hands-on:    20 minutes
Overall:     1 hour 10 minutes

Nutritional values (per bun)

Total Carbs	10.4	grams
Fiber	6.7	grams
Net Carbs	3.6	grams
Protein	10	grams
Fat	19	grams
of which Saturated	2.4	grams
Energy	236	kcal
Magnesium	68	mg (17% RDA)
Potassium	244	mg (12% EMR)

Macronutrient ratio: Calories from carbs (6%), protein (18%), fat (76%)

Ingredients (makes 12 servings) Keto Bread:

• 1 recipe Sourdough Keto Baguettes
• 2/3 cup Basil & Arugula Pesto, any other pesto (170 g/ 6 oz)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (45 g/ 1.6 oz)

Basil & Arugula Pesto:

• 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (50 g/ 1.8 oz)
• 1 bunch fresh basil (28 g/ 1 oz)
• 2 cups arugula (20 g/ 0.7 oz)
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt and pepper, to taste

Tips & substitutions:

• Lukewarm water in this recipe will slow down the raising effect of baking soda. I tried both boiling water and lukewarm and although it made no difference for baguettes, some people have been experiencing air bubbles / hollow insides when making a loaf. More tips on the perfect loaf are listed here.
• For a paleo, dairy-free option, try this coconut milk kefir recipe instead of the buttermilk: Use half of the coconut milk kefir and half water. Alternatively, you can use the dough for Ultimate Keto Buns or Nut-Free Keto Buns (both recipes are dairy-free).
• Make sure you use a kitchen scale for measuring all the dry ingredients. Using just cups may not be enough to achieve best results, especially in baked goods. Weights per cups and tablespoons may vary depending on the product/ brand or if you make you own ingredients (like flaxmeal from flaxseeds). Psyllium absorbs lots of water. When baking with psyllium, you must remember to drink enough water throughout the day to prevent constipation!
• You can use any other pesto recipes, including dairy-free and nut-free options.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 170 °C/ 325 °F (conventional oven), or 150 °C/ 300 °F (fan assisted oven).
   
2. To make pesto, place all of the ingredients except olive oil in a food processor. Blend until smooth. You'll need just 2/3 cup of the pesto (or use more or less to taste). Any leftover pesto can be stored in the fridge and used in zucchini noodles and other keto recipes.
3. Prepare the bread dough by following this recipe. Form the dough into rolls (I made 12) but you could easily make 9 bigger ones if you prefer.
   
4. Spoon roughly 1 tbsp of pesto into the centre of each bread roll and work it into the dough with your hands. Roll back into balls.
5. Grease an oven proof skillet with a little coconut oil or butter to prevent sticking.
   
6. Arrange the rolls in a circular pattern to roughly cover the base of the pan. They will expand on cooking.
   
7. Sprinkle with Parmesan. I didn’t include the Parmesan in the pesto as I wanted more on top.
   
8. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden and cooked through. When done, remove from the oven and let the bread cool down for 5 minutes.
   To prevent the bread from getting moist transfer from the skillet to a cooling wrack. Tastes best when served warm. Once cooled can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
   

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