1,593 light recipes

Gingered chicken salad with cubed cooked chicken, snow peas, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and scallions tossed in a fresh ginger-soy-sesame dressing. A 15-minute light Asian-style lunch salad.

Pan-fried orange roughy fillets with crisp breadcrumb crust, finished with a bright pan sauce of garlic, white wine, lemon juice and parsley. Light, flaky and elegant in 40 minutes.

Whipped shortbread cookies that practically melt on the tongue. Beaten with cornstarch and powdered sugar for a cloud-light, almost feathery crumb. Top with a candied cherry or pecan half.

Asian vegetable salad with pineapple, snow peas, carrots, red bell peppers, and watercress in a pineapple-ginger-soy sesame dressing. A light, colorful make-ahead side for barbecues and potlucks.

Parmesan tomato tart layers ricotta, fresh tomatoes, oregano and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano in a flaky pie shell. A light Italian-style savory tart that shines at summer brunch or lunch.

Ratatouille soup is the Provencal vegetable stew turned into a light, brothy bowl with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and green pepper. Ready in about 35 minutes for an easy, healthy weeknight dinner.

Minted peaches and melons is a fresh summer fruit salad of ripe peaches and cantaloupe in a light orange-lemon dressing, finished with chopped mint and toasted almonds. No cooking, and easy to make ahead.

Cucumber yogurt soup is a cool, no-cook summer starter blended with fresh dill, garlic, scallions, and tangy yogurt. Light, herbaceous, and ready in 10 minutes plus a chill. The answer to a sweltering afternoon.

Southern crustless quiche with grits, chopped ham, cheddar cheese, eggs, dry mustard, and a dash of hot sauce. Thick cooked grits replace the pastry crust.

Marinated cucumber and red bell pepper salad: crisp cucumber, sweet pepper, and slippery bean thread noodles tossed in Italian dressing and basil, chilled until they soak up the tang. A light, make-ahead salad.

Sole fillets rolled around leeks, parsley, and sun-dried tomatoes, then baked on a bed of parsley in white wine. A light, elegant fish dish with concentrated tomato flavor and no added fat.

Microwave meringues made with just egg white and powdered sugar in under 15 minutes. No oven needed. These two-ingredient meringue cookies puff up light and crisp in 90 seconds flat.

Pasta with asparagus, an aglio e olio-style dish with five cloves of garlic, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, fresh asparagus, and Parmesan over mostaccioli. Light, garlicky, ready in 40 minutes.

Really wonderful flavor on this pizza. Light and fresh tasting. I had never used Fontina cheese before, and it was excellent. This pizza was incredible, and I didn't change a thing.

Jumbo shrimp marinated in brandy, garlic, and lemon then skewered with bok choy and broiled until charred and succulent. A show-stopping appetizer or light dinner ready in under an hour.

Light, airy crab souffle with sweet crab meat, Swiss cheese, shallots, and a Parmesan crust. This elegant French-inspired dish rises tall and golden, turning simple ingredients into something show-stopping.