1,449 light recipes

Pfeffernuesse are traditional German pepper nut cookies spiced with cinnamon, cloves, mace, nutmeg, and allspice. Tiny rounds dried overnight and finished with a drop of brandy.

Sea scallops stir-fried with broccoli, napa cabbage, snow peas, and shiitake mushrooms in a star anise and rice vinegar sauce. A light, veggie-loaded Chinese seafood stir-fry over rice.

Traditional Chinese almond cookies with butter and shortening get an egg wash for glossy shine. Dough chills 2 hours, then slices into rounds topped with whole almonds.

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

French genoise sponge cake soaked with Amaretto and filled with whipped chocolate ganache. A light, egg-leavened cake with lemon zest and an overnight chocolate cream.

Hearty whole wheat pancakes with oats, applesauce, and cinnamon, studded with walnuts. Light and fluffy with substance that keeps you full until lunch.

High-fiber winter garden salad: shredded cabbage, carrots, broccoli, raisins, and sunflower seeds tossed in a curried yogurt and chutney dressing. Crunchy, sweet, lightly spiced.

It's light, fast, and a perfect complement to pies, puddings, and fruit compotes.

Cornflake macaroons made with whipped egg whites, coconut, pecans, and crispy corn flakes. Light, crunchy, and naturally gluten-free with no flour at all.

Fresh tomatoes hollowed out and stuffed with mashed avocado, chili powder, alfalfa sprouts, and coriander. A light, no-cook Mexican appetizer or healthy snack.

A smooth, puréed Norwegian cauliflower soup thickened with a light roux and skim milk, finished with white pepper and a dusting of nutmeg. Cozy, low-calorie comfort in a bowl.

Light angel food cake topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh blueberries macerated in Grand Marnier for an effortless summer dessert in 10 minutes.

German vegetable medley with asparagus, peas, carrots, cauliflower, and kohlrabi in a light cornstarch-thickened sauce. A classic Leipziger Allerlei-style vegetarian side.

Diet Rite bread: a 3-ingredient bread machine loaf made with just yeast, bread flour and soda water. Fat-free, sugar-free and low in sodium, with a surprisingly light, airy crumb.

Light Weight Watchers banana French toast with vanilla yogurt topping and caramelized banana slices. Reduced-calorie bread and egg substitute keep it guilt-free.

Brennan's-style banana beignets fried golden in a light beer batter, dusted with powdered sugar, and drizzled with homemade bourbon caramel sauce. A New Orleans classic you can make at home.