7,057 light recipes

Zucchini boats stuffed Andalouse-style with chopped beef, ham, mushrooms, tomatoes, and bell pepper in seasoned breadcrumbs. A rustic Spanish-inspired supper in 45 minutes.

Spicy tofu salad with julienned vegetables, chopped peanuts, and a chili-soy-rice vinegar dressing. Thai-inspired, loaded with crunch, and completely plant-based.

Tea and lemon ice made with strong brewed tea, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and a splash of carbonated water for lightness. A refreshing frozen dessert you can make without an ice cream maker.

Straw and Hay pasta combines regular and green fettuccine with mushrooms, peas, ham, and a light Parmesan cream sauce. A classic Italian dish named for its two-toned pasta, made lighter with skim milk.

Creamy cauliflower leek soup gets its silky body from pureed cauliflower, not heavy cream, with slowly cooked sweet leeks, a touch of Dijon, and lemon thyme. A velvety, light soup finished with chives and crisp garlic croutons.

Mini carrot cakes with chutney, coconut, walnuts, and warm spices baked in mini muffin tins. Topped with cream cheese frosting for bite-sized party treats.

Butternut squash pie with a from-scratch shortening crust, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a touch of lemon extract. A sweeter, nuttier alternative to pumpkin pie.

Poppy seed breakfast cake baked in a Bundt pan with buttermilk, almond extract, and a hidden cinnamon-sugar swirl through the center. Light, tender crumb from whipped egg whites folded into the batter.

Flaky double pie crust from scratch, enough dough for a top and bottom in one 9-inch pie. Cold fat and a light hand are the secret to tender, shatter-flaky layers every time.

Flaky cod fillets nestle in a bright tomato-wine sauce spiked with garlic and thyme, then finish in the oven with tender wilted spinach for a light, protein-packed dinner ready in under 30 minutes.

Fresh tomato basil pasta with a no-cook summer sauce: ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and garlic marinated in olive oil, then tossed with hot pasta. Light, bright, and ready in the time it takes to boil noodles.

A feather-light strawberry mousse that skips the heavy cream entirely. Whipped egg whites and skim milk powder create the airy texture, while gelatin holds it all together. Low-calorie indulgence that actually satisfies.

Coconut and linseed rice flour pancakes that are both gluten-free and dairy-free, with shredded coconut and flax meal folded into a rice flour batter. Light, wholesome pancakes for special diets.

Vegan beet borscht with apple cider, caraway seeds, and molasses simmered for hours then partially pureed for rich, complex vegetarian soup served hot or cold.

Pumpkin torte: a layered fall dessert with graham cracker crust, baked cream cheese center, and a light gelatin-set spiced pumpkin chiffon top. The Thanksgiving alternative to pumpkin pie that feeds a crowd.

Classic Jewish penicillin with tender matzoh balls floating in rich chicken stock made from scratch with carrots, celery, leeks, and parsnips. Comfort in a bowl that takes time but rewards with deep, soul-warming flavor.