2,200 light recipes

Cranberry star mold: a retro raspberry gelatin dessert folded with whipped cream, pineapple, and orange sections, chilled in a star mold. A classic holiday side or light dessert.

Garlic half-sour dill pickles: classic New York deli-style fermented cucumbers with garlic, dill, and pickling spice. Just 2 weeks to crisp, lightly sour pickles at home.

Seafood cocktail salad with shrimp, avocado, honeydew, cantaloupe, orange, and strawberries on lettuce, dressed with a tangy cocktail-sauce-and-salad-dressing mix. A light summer main course.

Thai pla preeo wan, broiled flounder topped with a fresh sweet-and-sour sauce of diced pineapple, cucumber, tomato, ginger, and cilantro. Light, bright, and healthy weeknight fish.

Lemon cloud dessert with a light baked soufflé top and chilled strawberry-mint compote. An elegant Easter or spring dinner-party dessert with bright citrus and fresh fruit.

Apricots in brandy, an 1831 American recipe: fresh apricots blanched in light syrup, bottled, and covered with equal parts syrup and French brandy. A heritage spirit-preserved fruit.

Light ricotta cheesecake swaps cream cheese for ricotta and buttermilk, finished with fresh orange zest. The crust is graham crackers spiced with ground ginger. Italian-leaning, lighter version.

San Francisco vegetable soup, a light ginger-sesame broth with bok choy, snow peas, carrot, and red pepper. Vegan, quick, and built to keep every vegetable crisp-tender.

Light Greek yogurt cheesecake with a melba toast and walnut crust, topped with dried figs poached in an ouzo syrup with cinnamon stick and orange zest. A Mediterranean twist on cheesecake that skips the heaviness.

Apple Cinnamon Tart has a no-butter oat crust pressed with apple juice, topped with fresh apple slices and a honey-sweetened yogurt gelatin filling. A light dessert at under 185 calories.

Low-calorie cottage cheese plate with fresh vegetables or tropical fruit, a hard-boiled egg, and rye crisp crackers. A high-protein, no-cook light lunch on a bed of lettuce.

Galia melon in port wine with honey and pomegranate seeds is an elegant, no-cook fruit dessert. Just four ingredients for a light, boozy finish to a dinner party that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Cashew nut cookies with brown sugar, sour cream, and a buttery vanilla icing topped with whole cashews. Soft drop cookies with a caramel-like depth from the brown sugar base.

Chilled berry buttermilk soup with blueberries or strawberries, orange zest, and tangy buttermilk blended until smooth. A cold fruit soup that works as a refreshing summer starter or light dessert.

French hazelnut meringue biscuit with finely ground filberts folded into whipped egg whites. Baked hot and fast for a light, nutty base layer that's a pastry chef's secret weapon.

Classic German Birnensuppe: fresh pears simmered with cinnamon and aniseed, blended silky smooth, stirred with sherry-plumped raisins and lemon. Served ice cold as a light starter or dessert.