1,449 light recipes

Cucumber noodles tossed with a fresh tomato salsa: ribbons of seedless cucumber salted briefly, then dressed with roma tomatoes, scallions, garlic, pickled jalapeno, and white wine vinegar. Raw, light, gluten-free.

Lithuanian strawberry torte layers three light butter cake rounds with whipped cream, currant jelly, strawberry preserves, and pecans. Eastern European holiday celebration cake.

Raisin bread for the bread machine, a soft, lightly sweet loaf with plump raisins folded in for breakfast toast, French toast, or alongside afternoon coffee.

Crispy homemade flatbread made with flour, cornmeal, and margarine, rolled paper-thin and baked until golden. A simple cracker-style bread with a light cornmeal crunch.

Sauteed squid and shrimp with eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes, and garlic in olive oil with a squeeze of lemon. Served over golden-browned eggplant slices for a light, Mediterranean-style seafood dish.

Quinoa salad with fresh apricots, currants, scallions, toasted pine nuts, and bell pepper. A light Mediterranean-inspired grain salad that balances sweet dried fruit with crunchy nuts and herby alliums.

Swedish meatballs in a creamy dill and mushroom sour cream sauce, served over egg noodles with green beans. Club soda in the meat mixture keeps them light and tender.

Asparagus vichyssoise made in the microwave with fresh asparagus, potatoes, and skim milk. This light, low-fat cold soup is blended silky-smooth and chilled overnight for a refreshing make-ahead starter.

Coffee cake muffins with a cinnamon-pecan brown sugar streusel baked inside and on top. All the flavor of coffee cake in individual portions, ready in 30 minutes.

Light apple raisin crepes with an oat bran batter, part-skim ricotta and apple filling, and a warm cinnamon syrup poured over at serving. Just 178 calories per serving.

Baked pasta shells with chicken, peas, fresh herbs, and Parmesan. Sauteed chicken and vegetables tossed with shell pasta and baked until hot and golden. A light, herb-forward weeknight pasta bake.

Silky blended soup packed with potatoes, zucchini, and spinach in a light vegetarian broth that's low-calorie, dairy-free, and deeply satisfying.

Crisp snow peas, raw zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and toasted pine nuts tossed in a shallot-red wine vinaigrette and served chilled. A fresh, light side dish for two.

Savory crepes fill thin egg pancakes with sautéed mushrooms and cottage cheese, then bake until warmed through. Eastern European brunch or light dinner classic.

Spicy couscous with curry, cumin, and cinnamon, tossed with sauteed tomatoes and green onions. A fragrant 15-minute side dish or light main course.

Chickpea and spinach soup spices a creamy chickpea base with curry, cardamom, and nutmeg, then folds in tender wilted spinach. Vegetarian, lightly creamy from skim milk and a partial puree, ready in under an hour.