PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles
PCOS-Friendly Breakfast

PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

A low-carb, PCOS-friendly version of the classic Shakshuka dish, served over zucchini noodles.

30 minutes
2 servings
300 cal / serving

This PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 300 calories, 18g protein, and 12g carbs per serving. Ready in 30 minutes. High in fiber (4g), which supports insulin sensitivity.

Nutrition per Serving

300 Calories
18g Protein
12g Carbs
15g Fat
Grocery list: 2 medium zucchinis, olive oil, 1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 bell pepper, 1 can diced tomatoes, spices (paprika, cumin, chili powder), salt and pepper, 4 large eggs, fresh parsley. GI information: Zucchini (low GI), tomatoes (low GI), eggs (low GI).

Ingredients

Servings 2

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

  2. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook until softened.

  3. Add the diced tomatoes, paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.

  4. Make four wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each. Cover and cook until the eggs are done to your liking.

  5. While the eggs are cooking, sauté the zucchini noodles in a separate pan until tender.

  6. Serve the Shakshuka over the zucchini noodles and garnish with fresh parsley.

This PCOS-friendly Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles is a great way to start your day. It's low in carbs and high in protein, which can help manage insulin levels and promote weight loss. The zucchini noodles add a fun twist to the traditional dish and provide a good source of fiber. The tomatoes are low GI and packed with antioxidants. The eggs provide a good source of protein and are also low GI. This dish is also rich in vitamins A and C, which are important for overall health and immunity. Enjoy this empowering and supportive meal that brings variety to your diet and helps you take control of your PCOS.

Why this PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles works for PCOS

This PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles delivers 18g of protein per serving, which sits in the moderate range for a PCOS-friendly meal. If you find yourself hungry within 2-3 hours, pair this dish with an additional protein source (Greek yogurt, a boiled egg, or a small portion of fish) to push the meal closer to the 25-35g per-meal target most PCOS dietitians recommend.

At 12g of carbohydrates per serving, this PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles is on the lower-carb end, which suits women with PCOS who have confirmed insulin resistance or who notice strong post-meal energy crashes. Pair lower-carb meals like this with a generous portion of non-starchy vegetables to keep fibre intake up.

Fat makes up about 45% of calories in this dish. Dietary fat plays a load-bearing role in PCOS because sex hormones are synthesised from cholesterol, and very-low-fat eating can suppress hormone production over time. The 2023 PCOS guideline does not specify a strict fat target, but most clinicians recommend at least 25-35% of calories from a mix of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated sources.

Eating a substantial breakfast like this PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles is one of the highest-leverage moves you can make for PCOS. In the Jakubowicz et al. 2013 trial published in Clinical Science, women with PCOS who front-loaded calories to breakfast reduced fasting insulin by 56% and increased ovulation rates 50%, with no change in total calories. Front-loading works because insulin sensitivity is highest in the morning and lowest at night.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this PCOS Friendly Shakshuka - Low-Carb Shakshuka with Zucchini Noodles recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 300 calories per serving with 18g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 4g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.

This recipe takes about 30 minutes total. Prep time is 10 minutes and cook time is 20 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.

Per serving: 300 calories, 18g protein (24%), 12g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 4g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Breakfast. At 300 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Breakfast. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 2 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

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