2,179 light recipes

Fresh clams steamed open with eight cloves of garlic, olive oil, white wine, chile pepper, and bread crumbs that thicken the broth into a scoopable sauce. Simple, rustic, and loaded with garlic.

Potato, artichoke, and leek soup pureed silky smooth with fresh thyme and a touch of Tabasco. Served hot or cold, this creamy soup uses milk instead of heavy cream for a lighter bowl.

Quick spaghetti sauce made with ground chicken or turkey, white wine, tomato sauce, and fresh vegetables. A lighter meat sauce with basil and sage, ready in 30 minutes.

Crustless crab quiche with zucchini, mushrooms, reduced-fat cheddar, and evaporated skim milk. A lighter take on quiche with both microwave and oven instructions.

Granny Smith applesauce tarts with golden hot-water pastry shells filled with honey-sweetened, lemon-brightened chunky applesauce. A lighter, old-fashioned dessert.

Applesauce tea bread is an eight-ingredient quickbread sweetened with applesauce instead of butter. A heavy hand of cinnamon and skim milk keep this loaf low-fat and pantry-simple.

Oven-baked French toast made with blended cottage cheese, skim milk, and egg whites on whole wheat bread. A lighter, protein-packed brunch that skips the frying pan entirely.

Crispy baked filo parcels filled with curried vegetables, bean sprouts, and fresh coriander. A lighter, oven-baked alternative to deep-fried samosas with a golden, flaky shell.

Fat-free Alfredo sauce over fettuccine made with skim evaporated milk, garlic sauteed in white wine, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without the cheese. A lighter take on the classic cream pasta.

Upside-down apple tart with caramelized Golden Delicious apples on a flaky cake-flour crust, finished with a brown sugar yogurt drizzle. A lighter take on classic tarte Tatin.

Pear and raisin charoset with dried apricots, honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and red wine. A lighter, fruit-forward Passover charoset without nuts or apples.

Tofu lasagna with mashed tofu standing in for ricotta, layered with mushrooms, mozzarella, Parmesan, and your favorite sauce. A lighter, protein-rich vegetarian lasagna.

A lighter take on chocolate mousse using cocoa powder, almond extract, and fluffy whipped topping set with gelatin. Rich chocolate flavor, airy texture, fewer calories than the classic.

Cherry and almond Christmas cake: maraschino cherries, apricots, ginger, and almonds macerated in amaretto and brandy, baked into a lighter apple-puree batter, then soaked in more amaretto. A boozy, fruit-packed festive cake that keeps for a month.

Reduced fat fudge brownies made with pumpkin puree instead of butter, just 1 tablespoon of oil, and 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder. Dense, chocolatey, and surprisingly rich for a lighter brownie.

Low-fat vegetarian chili with kidney beans, bulgur wheat, and jalapeno ready in 30 minutes. Braised in vegetable stock instead of oil for a lighter, healthier bowl.