1,281 light recipes

Parkin is a variety of gingerbread, good warming stuff to eat out of doors in cold weather. When I was a child, it was always a firm favourite for the firework party on Bonfire Night each year. This is adapted from my mother's recipe.

Crab cakes with tomatillo salsa bind lump crabmeat with bread and egg white for a light crust, pan-seared and topped with tangy diced tomatillo-lime salsa. Southwest-style seafood dinner.

Pear and almond pancakes with syrup-soaked Bartletts and slivered nuts pressed right into the batter, finished with warm fig-maple syrup. A weekend breakfast with real brunch-menu flair.

Mini salmon burgers made with canned salmon, crushed saltine crackers, dill, and lemon juice. Pan-fried until golden for a quick appetizer or light main.

Mixed fruit salad with apples, bananas, pineapple, and raisins in a light lemon-mayo dressing. A low-calorie, diabetic-friendly side dish with a celery crunch.

A vegetable-packed white lasagna layered with a creamy pesto sauce, mashed white beans, mushrooms, peppers, eggplant, and spinach-ricotta. No tomato in sight, finished with a parmesan-breadcrumb crust.

Party lemon bisque is a vintage no-bake chilled dessert: lemon gelatin and partially-frozen sweetened condensed milk whipped into a cloud-light mousse over graham cracker crumbs. Tangy, sweet, and built for a crowd.

Sanbaizu is a classic Japanese dipping sauce made with rice vinegar, dashi, soy sauce, and sugar. A light, tangy all-purpose condiment for dumplings, sashimi, and sunomono.

Fresh corn in a shatteringly light tempura batter, deep-fried until golden and lacy. Served with tentsuyu dipping sauce and grated daikon for a crisp Japanese-style appetizer.

Light vegetarian sauce made with arrowroot, tamari, and vegetable stock. Glossy, savory, and ready in 15 minutes. Great over grains, stir-fries, or steamed veggies.

Crispy fried lemon rosette cookies made with a rosette iron, evaporated milk batter, and a dusting of powdered sugar. Light as air with lacy edges.

Microwave poached pears glazed with orange marmalade, brown sugar, and citrus zest, served chilled with a creamy yogurt sauce. A light, elegant fruit dessert.

Jellied tomato salad made with unflavored gelatin, tomato juice, basil, lemon, and garlic. A retro molded salad that's light, savory, and perfect alongside cold cuts.

Layered asparagus casserole with saltine crackers, cheddar cheese, and a light egg custard baked until golden and set. Simple, old-fashioned comfort in under 45 minutes.

Eggless corn muffins use just seven pantry staples and no eggs at all. Lightly sweet, tender, and ready in 40 minutes start to finish. A solid pick for egg allergies or when the carton's empty.

Light upside-down cake with canned apricot halves on the bottom, topped with a sponge-like batter made from separated eggs and bread crumbs.