7,151 light recipes

Light summer asparagus soup made with fresh asparagus sauteed until golden, simmered in broth, then strained and thickened with egg yolks and milk. A delicate, thin soup built for warm weather when asparagus is cheap and plentiful.

Rolled oat icebox cookies. Slice-and-bake dough with butter, brown sugar and quick oats for crisp, lightly caramelized cookies made from a log you can keep in the fridge.

Tuna lemon pasta, a light pantry dinner of shells and flaked tuna tossed in a bright lemon, wine, and broth sauce with scallions. A quick, fresh weeknight meal that skips the heavy cream.

Rhubarb and strawberry compote in a glossy orange juice syrup. Rhubarb simmers first, then fresh strawberries fold in off the heat for a fresh-tasting spring fruit topping. Light, tangy, low-sugar.

Grilled shrimp skewered on fresh rosemary branches, marinated in lemon, garlic, and chili, then served over a bright cherry tomato and black olive salsa. A showstopping Mediterranean appetizer or light main.

Glazed orange cake baked in the microwave with fresh orange juice, beaten egg whites for lift, and a glossy orange glaze. A light, airy chiffon-style cake ready in 30 minutes.

Chicken dinner salad with pan-seared chicken over cucumber ribbons, juicy tomatoes, olives, and feta, dressed in a quick homemade vinaigrette. A light, fresh Greek-style salad that eats like a meal in 20 minutes.

For a bread machine. I've done these both 'full fat' and 'reduced fat'. It's hard to tell the difference, so we go reduced, including using light (Neufchatel) cream cheese. I've tried ALL the fat free cream cheeses and NONE of them work.

Special Raisin and Walnut Cinnamon Rolls with Glaze recipe

Pasta with crab sauce: sweet crab meat folded into a light tomato and white wine sauce with shallot and celery, tossed over hot pasta. An elegant seafood pasta that comes together in about half an hour.

Lemon chiffon pie folds whipped egg whites into a tart lemon-gelatin custard for a cloud-light, no-bake pie filling. Crowned with sweetened whipped cream in a baked shell.

Sweet cornbread: a quick one-bowl batter of cornmeal, flour, and sugar baked into a moist, lightly sweet round. The fast, fluffy cornbread that goes with chili, barbecue, or a bowl of soup.

Hot and sour soup with shredded pork, chicken, tofu, cloud ears, and golden needles in a rice vinegar broth thickened with cornstarch and finished with egg ribbons.

Sous Provencal is a light, airy sauce made from hand-emulsified egg yolks, whipped egg whites, sour cream, mustard, and red wine vinegar. A French-Russian cold sauce for fish and vegetables.

Oat bran muffins for a high-fiber breakfast, sweetened with honey and brown sugar. Egg whites and just a splash of oil keep them light, and one batter spins into raisin-nut, banana or blueberry.

Duchess potato puff baked with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and egg until golden and cloud-light. Uses instant potato flakes for speed, but tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen. Ready in under an hour.