2,200 light recipes

Apricot ice cream with low-fat yogurt and fromage frais instead of cream. A lighter frozen dessert built on dried apricot puree, perfect for hot afternoons without the heaviness of dairy ice cream.

A bright, citrusy banana bread with orange juice, orange zest, wheat germ, and raisins. Made with egg whites and minimal oil for a lighter loaf. 17 reviews and a 4.5 average rating.

Mexican chicken chili blends home-ground chicken breast with a little lean beef, simmered low and slow with warm spices and tomatoes. Topped with avocado, a dollop of yogurt, and fresh cilantro for a lighter bowl.

A rich, delicious stove-top side dish with a silky texture. This pairs especially well with the Porcini-Rubbed Turkey with Shiitake-Madeira Gravy — or grilled steaks on any other day in November. You can make the potatoes eight hours ahead and reheat them just before serving.

Whole wheat carrot spice quickbread with orange zest, golden raisins, and walnuts. A lighter, warmly spiced loaf that comes together fast with no yeast required.

Oil-free basil pesto with pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and lemon juice instead of olive oil. A lighter, brighter pesto ready in 5 minutes.

Sliced SPAM simmered with zucchini, potatoes, carrots, and canned tomatoes seasoned with basil, oregano, and garlic in one skillet. A budget-friendly 40-minute dinner that feeds eight.

Strawberry banana ricotta cheesecake blends ricotta with strawberries and bananas, sweetened with apple juice concentrate, on a Grape Nuts crust. A lighter no-sugar-added dessert.

Beet cake with orange cream cheese frosting uses grated fresh beets for a deeply moist, spiced layer cake with a rosy hue. Topped with toasted walnuts, it's a lighter twist on carrot cake.

Tiramisu made with mascarpone blended with cottage cheese for a lighter, less heavy filling. Coffee-soaked ladyfingers, a cloud of whipped egg whites, and a dusting of cocoa, with no baking required.

Toasted pita chips split, cut, and bake pita bread into crisp triangles for dips, soups, and lunchboxes. Two ingredients, eight-minute bake, much better than store-bought.

Stracci pasta tossed with eight fresh herbs, extra-virgin olive oil, Romano cheese, and chopped tomatoes. An Italian herb pasta where the uncooked herb sauce is the star.

Low-calorie sausage and cheese biscuits with turkey sausage, bran, buttermilk, and reduced-fat cheddar. A lighter take on a breakfast classic.

Guiltless brownies made with pureed bananas, cocoa, whole-wheat flour, and chopped nuts. A lighter brownie with no butter that still satisfies the chocolate craving.

Sesame ham and cheese bites: layered ham-prosciutto-Gruyere squares breaded with sesame seeds and parsley breadcrumbs, baked until golden and melty. Forty-eight bite-sized party appetizers.

Mango habanero hot sauce with eight ripe mangos, champagne vinegar, and carrots simmered into a smooth, fruity heat. Works with orange or green habaneros.