2,179 light recipes

A light, no-bake cheesecake made with blended cottage cheese instead of cream cheese, set with gelatin and lightened with whipped egg white and whipped topping. Sugar-free, airy, and poured into a graham crust.

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.

Thai-style stuffed green peppers filled with chopped fresh mushrooms, scallions, garlic and ginger bound with a cornstarch slurry. Baked or steamed and finished with slivered dried chilies. A light vegetable side or vegan main.

Summer bean and basil soup is a classic Provençal soupe au pistou. White beans, leeks, potatoes, zucchini, green beans, and macaroni in a light broth, served with a fresh basil-garlic pistou sauce on top.

Fresh steamer clams cooked in white wine with shallots and herbs, then tossed with linguine in a garlicky, reduced clam broth sauce. Light, briny, and naturally diabetic-friendly with just one tablespoon of olive oil.

Roasted red pepper sauce blends sweet roasted peppers with fresh basil, parsley, and garlic into a smooth, no-cook pasta sauce. Bright, light, and ready in about five minutes, with no cream or stovetop required.

Steamed salmon in orange-tomato sauce poaches skinless salmon fillets over a bright reduction of orange juice, white wine, garlic, and plum tomatoes, perfumed with fresh basil. A light, low-fat 35-minute weeknight dinner.

Rice cake delight is a 5-minute snack: crisp rice cakes spread with creamy cream cheese and a smear of sweet fruit preserves. Light, low-fat, and endlessly customizable for breakfast or an afternoon bite.

Minted peaches and melons is a fresh summer fruit salad of ripe peaches and cantaloupe in a light orange-lemon dressing, finished with chopped mint and toasted almonds. No cooking, and easy to make ahead.

Rustic Italian chicken and vegetable soup with zucchini, carrots, and diced tomatoes simmered in light chicken broth. One Dutch oven, under an hour, with a handful of grated Parmesan on top for a nutty finish.

Savarin aux fruits, a classic French rum-soaked yeast ring cake. A light, beaten dough is baked, then drenched in flavored syrup until saturated and filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit. An elegant patisserie dessert.

Passover bagels made with matzo meal, eggs, oil, and water. No yeast, no flour, no boiling pot — just a stovetop dough and a quick bake. Chewy on the inside, lightly crisp on the outside, and kosher for Passover.

Orange roughy with basil and peppers is a light microwave fish dinner for two: mild white fillets steamed over julienned red bell peppers and onions with fresh basil and lemon. Ready in 25 minutes with almost no fat.

Maui chicken sandwich with pineapple-marinated grilled chicken, grilled pineapple rings, jicama slaw, and Thousand Island on a roll. A Hawaiian-inspired sandwich ready in 40 minutes.

Fresh fruit ice is a light, low-fat frozen dessert made with orange juice, lemon, mashed banana, and strawberries or peaches. Gelatin and a rebeat give it a creamy, scoopable texture without a churn ice cream maker.

Yeasted beer batter for fried fish: flour, eggs, beer, and a packet of active dry yeast rested two hours into a light, lacy coating that fries up shatteringly crisp. Pub-style fish-and-chips done right.