2,200 light recipes

Great-Grandma's lemon cake with real butter, lemon zest and juice, and beaten egg whites folded in for a light crumb. A heirloom loaf cake recipe that makes two freezer-friendly loaves.

Mussel and tomato soup: a quick four-ingredient Italian-style seafood soup with garlic, olive oil, plum tomatoes, and fresh mussels. Ready in 40 minutes for a light appetizer or main.

Stir-fried long beans (or green beans) with red bell pepper and nutty wild rice, finished with a touch of sugar for balance. Quick, light side dish for any main.

Low-fat Dutch apple cake spreads a thin, biscuit-like batter under overlapping cinnamon-sugar apples. Egg whites and skim milk keep it light, more fruit than cake in every slice.

Chewy coconut almond macaroons made with homemade almond paste, ground coconut, and egg whites. Naturally gluten-free, crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Dutch-style chicken fillets coated in a mustard-egg batter, pan-fried in butter, and served over sauteed leeks with fresh red currants and Granny Smith apple. Sweet, tart, and savory in every bite.

Ful medames is a traditional Egyptian stewed fava bean dish simmered with red lentils, cumin, lemon juice, and olive oil. Hearty, vegan, and high in protein.

Chicken-stuffed mushrooms with garlic, parsley, and bread crumbs baked until golden. Poached chicken breast filling bound with egg yolk for a rich appetizer.

Mystery pizza with a ricotta cheese crust made from just ricotta and flour, topped with tomato paste, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms, and mozzarella. A gluten-light, no-yeast personal pizza.

Low-fat cherry cheesecake built on blended cottage cheese and whipped egg whites for a light, airy slice, with no added sugar. A crustless lightened cheesecake topped with sweet bing cherries.

Light linguine with white clam sauce made with canned clams simmered in their own briny liquid with onion, parsley, and Parmesan. A low-fat Italian pasta that lets the clean ocean flavor of the clams shine through.

Lemon chicken with egg noodles, ready in 25 minutes. Pounded chicken breasts dredged in a lemon-paprika oil and pan-cooked until tender, served over no-yolk noodles for a light dinner.

Asian vegetable fried rice with broccoli, red pepper, bamboo shoots, and straw mushrooms stir-fried in sesame oil with soy sauce. A low-fat, five-ingredient side dish or light main using frozen mixed vegetables.

The tang of Dijon mustard and the smoothness of whipping cream combine with the light flavor of champagne or white wine to make this a wonderful, easy sauce for fish.

Cafe con miel is Spanish honey coffee with warm milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. A cozy 20-minute drink that doubles as a light dessert. Three ingredients you already have.

Crispy Belgian apple fritters made with just 3 ingredients: sliced apple rings dipped in a light beer batter and fried golden. Serve with custard or a dusting of powdered sugar.