1,281 light recipes

A delicate Asian-style steamed seafood custard (chawanmushi) with whole clams, fresh ginger, scallions, and umami-rich fish sauce. Light, savory, silky, and ready in under an hour.

Cranberry star mold: a retro raspberry gelatin dessert folded with whipped cream, pineapple, and orange sections, chilled in a star mold. A classic holiday side or light dessert.

Seafood cocktail salad with shrimp, avocado, honeydew, cantaloupe, orange, and strawberries on lettuce, dressed with a tangy cocktail-sauce-and-salad-dressing mix. A light summer main course.

A chilled Hungarian-style cherry soup made with Bing cherries, claret wine, cinnamon, and lemon, thickened with egg yolk. Served cold as an elegant starter or light meal.

Dried fruit poached in sweet red wine with cinnamon, cloves, and lemon juice, served chilled with fresh bananas. A warm-spiced fruit compote dessert that's light and elegant.

Chilled cinnamon peach soup with ripe summer peaches, warm spices, orange juice, and yogurt. A refreshing first course or light dessert that captures peach season in a bowl.

Honey cut-out cookies with lemon extract, rolled thin and baked until lightly golden. A sturdy dough that holds its shape for holiday decorating with powdered sugar glaze.

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.

No-bake chocolate mousse pie made with blended cottage cheese, skim milk, and cocoa on a cinnamon-graham cracker crust. Light, creamy, and high in protein. A smarter way to satisfy a chocolate craving without heavy cream or butter.

Lemon tea snow with strawberry sauce: a light, airy gelatin dessert flavored with lemon and instant tea, beaten with egg whites into a cloud. Served with a warm-set strawberry-currant sauce. Retro Southern tearoom fare.

Ginger chicken soup with soy-marinated tofu, fresh spinach, and a ginger-infused broth. A light, warming bowl with clean Asian flavors, low in calories and ready in under an hour.

Baked figs and pears spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar, served warm straight from the dish. A naturally sweet, no-fuss breakfast or light dessert built on just five ingredients.

Homemade dog biscuits packed with wholesome whole wheat, rye, and cracked wheat, baked until golden and crunchy. Made with real beef or chicken broth, these bone-shaped treats store for months and make tail-wagging gifts.

Low-fat oatmeal loaded with fresh apple chunks, raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon. A warm, naturally sweetened breakfast bowl that's also diabetic-friendly.

Garlicky corn spinach soup with sweet kernels sliced fresh from the cob and tender greens wilted in at the last minute. A light, low-calorie one-pot soup that comes together from pantry staples.

Silky chilled fennel soup, fennel simmered with shallots and garlic, pureed with lemon and dill, then blended with cool yogurt. A light, tangy, anise-kissed soup served cold as a refreshing starter.