Is French pesto soup Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look at the ingredient label to determine the metabolic impact of a product. The formula for French pesto soup is interesting because it relies on a vegetable base rather than heavy cream or wheat thickeners.

The primary ingredients are white beans, potatoes, and carrots. Strictly speaking, these are higher in carbohydrates than leafy greens. However, in the context of a soup, the volume of water and fiber from the zucchini and green beans dilutes the net carb count per serving. Crucially, the soup uses extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil as the fat source. This is an excellent choice for Keto, providing healthy monounsaturated fats without spiking insulin.

The flavor profile comes from basil, garlic, and oregano. These are non-starchy and add negligible carbs while providing antioxidants. The absence of flour, cornstarch, or sugar means the soup avoids the most common 'hidden' carb traps found in processed soups.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this soup offers a balanced macronutrient profile suitable for a moderate low-carb diet. The olive oil contributes roughly 14 grams of fat per tablespoon, which helps induce satiety and keeps you in ketosis if portion sizes are controlled.

The white beans and potatoes provide the bulk of the carbohydrates. A standard serving likely contains between 8 to 12 grams of net carbs. For a strict Keto dieter aiming for 20g of carbs per day, this fits comfortably, provided you don't exceed one serving or pair it with other carb-heavy foods. The fiber content from the vegetables is high, which aids digestion and offsets the glycemic load of the beans.