1,293 light recipes

Apricots in brandy, an 1831 American recipe: fresh apricots blanched in light syrup, bottled, and covered with equal parts syrup and French brandy. A heritage spirit-preserved fruit.

Lemonade wafers: crisp, egg-free drop cookies bright with fresh lemon zest and juice, optional coconut topping. Light, sunny cookie that tastes like summer in a single bite.

Chocolate angel food layer cake baked in heart-shape pans. Fat-free, cloud-light, cocoa-scented sponge made with egg whites and cake flour. No butter, no yolks.

San Francisco vegetable soup, a light ginger-sesame broth with bok choy, snow peas, carrot, and red pepper. Vegan, quick, and built to keep every vegetable crisp-tender.

Tom yum goong, the Thai hot and sour shrimp soup: a fragrant broth of kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass and galangal, made fiery with chili and sour with lime. Light, aromatic and ready fast.

Apple Cinnamon Tart has a no-butter oat crust pressed with apple juice, topped with fresh apple slices and a honey-sweetened yogurt gelatin filling. A light dessert at under 185 calories.

Low-calorie cottage cheese plate with fresh vegetables or tropical fruit, a hard-boiled egg, and rye crisp crackers. A high-protein, no-cook light lunch on a bed of lettuce.

Oven-fried zucchini sticks bread fresh zucchini in a whole wheat flour and cornmeal mix, then bake on a hot sheet pan until golden crisp. No deep fryer, no guilt.

Galia melon in port wine with honey and pomegranate seeds is an elegant, no-cook fruit dessert. Just four ingredients for a light, boozy finish to a dinner party that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Chilled berry buttermilk soup with blueberries or strawberries, orange zest, and tangy buttermilk blended until smooth. A cold fruit soup that works as a refreshing summer starter or light dessert.

Wine-poached salmon steaks topped with tangy Dijon-dill yogurt sauce create an elegant 25-minute dinner that's light, flavorful, and perfect for date nights or easy weeknight meals.

Classic German Birnensuppe: fresh pears simmered with cinnamon and aniseed, blended silky smooth, stirred with sherry-plumped raisins and lemon. Served ice cold as a light starter or dessert.

Beer-battered hush puppies with cornmeal, self-rising flour, and chopped onions. Beer adds lightness and tang. Drop in hot oil, fry until crisp for pub-style cornbread bites.

Crisp, lightly sweet banana crackers made with mashed banana, honey, butter, and flour. Thin, crunchy, and naturally flavored, these homemade crackers double as a fruit cobbler crust when crumbled.

Seared bay scallops glazed with a reduced vermouth and lemon sauce, finished with fresh dill and cracked pepper. A light, elegant 20-minute seafood dish with bright, clean flavors.

Smoked salmon canapes on crisp jicama triangles with lime-spiked Neufchatel cheese and cracked black pepper. A light, no-cook appetizer that looks like it came from a caterer.