This zucchini recipe is a low-carb take on cheesy scalloped potatoes

Sometimes we all need to indulge in some good, old-fashioned comfort food — something warm, salty and gooey to satisfy both our tastebuds and our souls. But for those of us who are watching our carbs, traditional comfort foods like scalloped potatoes are not included in a low-carb meal plan.

Fortunately, creative cooks like Chungah Rhee of the blog Damn Delicious come to the rescue with recipes that provide a healthy twist on the old comforting classics. Rhee developed a cheesy zucchini gratin recipe that is sure to satisfy our ooey-gooey cravings.

Rhee originally posted this decadent dish as an alternative for all the heavy potato side dishes served at the holidays. But we think cheesy zucchini gratin could also work as an everyday side dish when you’re looking for something that feels a little special and tastes incredible.

Beyond the creamy goodness of this recipe, cheesy zucchini gratin is a relatively simple dish to make. You’ll need zucchini, heavy cream, nutmeg, garlic, thyme, kosher salt, pepper, Gruyere cheese and crispy fried onions.

The first part of the recipe is all about making the cheese sauce that goes on top of the layers of zucchini. After a few minutes on the stovetop, it will be ready to go!

Next, layers of sliced zucchini go into a baking dish along with the sauce and the freshly shredded cheese. Follow the step-by-step directions to get the right proportions of zucchini, sauce and cheese.

Then, the magic happens in the oven. The vegetables cook in the sauce and cheese until they become all bubbly and golden brown. The best part, though, might be the crispy onions that go on top in the final minutes in the oven.

It’s that combination of crispiness and rich creaminess that makes this low-carb substitute feel like a guilty pleasure!