2,674 light recipes

Creamy German cucumber salad (Gurkensalat) tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing with mustard and fresh dill. Salting the cucumbers first keeps every slice crisp and the dressing thick, never watery.

Velvety cold peaches and cream soup with amaretto and a whisper of nutmeg. A brilliant way to use overripe peaches, and just as good made with canned peaches in winter.

Buddhist mock chicken made from layered dried bean curd sheets soaked in seasoned stock, rolled into a loaf, steamed, then deep-fried until golden. A traditional Chinese vegetarian technique with a surprisingly meaty texture.

The flavor of this golden brown fudge comes from the caramelized sugar.

Old-fashioned stovetop fudge made with real unsweetened chocolate, evaporated milk, and walnuts. Cooked to soft ball stage and beaten until thick and glossy, this is the kind of homemade fudge that wins county fair ribbons.

A creamy apple marshmallow Waldorf salad: crisp Granny Smith apples, celery, walnuts, and dried fruit folded into whipped cream and mayonnaise with mini marshmallows. A retro, fluffy holiday side the whole table loves.

Candied orange peels turn citrus rinds into glossy, sugar-coated treats by double-blanching the peels, simmering in syrup, and rolling in sugar. A holiday gift project, ready overnight. Works with lemon or lime peels too.

Candied grapefruit peel: slow-simmered in sugar syrup until translucent, rolled in superfine sugar, and optionally dipped in dark chocolate for an old-fashioned confection.

Ginger dipping sauce for steamed crab with fresh ginger, light soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. A classic Chinese-style condiment that comes together while the crab steams.

Chocolate-covered cherries wrap maraschino cherries in a fondant sugar coating, then dip in dark chocolate. After a week of "ripening," the fondant liquefies around the cherry for that classic Cella's-style syrupy center.

A no-bake treat combining the rich flavors of bourbon, cocoa, and graham crackers into bite-sized confections. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a sweet indulgence, these bourbon balls are easy to make and store well in the refrigerator.

Rhubarb pie sweetened with light brown sugar instead of white, with thin lemon slices layered between the rhubarb for bright citrus contrast. A lattice-topped pie that's tart, caramelly, and old-fashioned.

A nice change from oatmeal. Also good with dried cranberries. The ingredient Wizard did not recognize powdered milk, so entered it as "milk" with "nonfat dry powder" in the preparation line.

No-bake Special K cereal cookies made with peanut butter, sugar, corn syrup, and crispy rice cereal. These crunchy, sweet clusters come together on the stovetop in under 15 minutes with just a handful of pantry staples.

Classic divinity candy with a detailed step-by-step guide for getting it right every time. Sugar, corn syrup, and whipped egg whites folded with nuts and vanilla into cloud-like confections.

Crispy deep-fried Australian dim sims stuffed with minced pork, prawns, cabbage, and shallots in wonton wrappers. A classic Aussie takeaway snack ready in 15 minutes. Serve with soy or sweet and sour sauce.