Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the zucchini

• 2 medium zucchini, about 500 g
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp garlic powder

High-protein cheesy topping

• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 2 oz (60 g) shredded mozzarella
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ tsp black pepper

For extra carbohydrates

• ½ cup cooked quinoa, divided over the servings
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Prepare the zucchini
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Slice the zucchini lengthwise into thick steaks, about ½–¾ inch thick.

Pat them dry with paper towels. This is important because zucchini releases water during cooking.

2. Season
Place the zucchini on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.

Roast for 10–12 minutes.

3. Make the protein topping
In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, egg, Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.

For a smoother topping, blend the cottage cheese first, then mix everything together.

4. Add the cheese mixture
Remove the zucchini from the oven. Spread the cottage-cheese mixture generously over each zucchini steak.

Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top.

5. Bake until golden
Return to the oven and bake for another 8–10 minutes, until the topping is set and the mozzarella is melted.

Turn on the broiler for 1–2 minutes at the end to create a beautiful golden, crispy top. Watch carefully.

6. Add the carbs
Serve each portion with about 2 tablespoons of cooked quinoa. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a few red pepper flakes.

💪 Approximate Nutrition Per Serving

Depending on the exact brands used:

• Calories: ~240–270
• Protein: ~17–20 g
• Carbohydrates: ~12–15 g
• Fat: ~13–15 g
• Fiber: ~2–3 g

⭐ Make It Even Higher Protein

For a 25–30 g protein meal, serve one zucchini steak portion with 3–4 oz grilled chicken breast or turkey. This makes it much better as a complete high-protein meal rather than just a side dish.

Note: Zucchini itself is relatively low in carbohydrates, so the quinoa is what makes this a more balanced protein + carb recipe.