1,293 light recipes

Sweet corn and halibut tamales wrapped in fresh corn husks with fresh-cut kernels, cilantro, red bell pepper and a whisper of cornmeal. A lighter, coastal take on traditional tamales that cooks in just 20 minutes.

Twice baked potatoes with a nonfat yogurt-mashed filling instead of sour cream, seasoned to taste and baked until heated through with a paprika-dusted top. A lighter, customizable classic side dish.

Reduced fat fudge brownies made with pumpkin puree instead of butter, just 1 tablespoon of oil, and 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder. Dense, chocolatey, and surprisingly rich for a lighter brownie.

Creamy broccoli cheddar soup made with skim milk and reduced-fat cheese for a lighter take on a steakhouse classic. Hot soup melts the cheese in the bowl. Ready in 25 minutes.

Ground chicken pizza on a biscuit dough crust with mushrooms, bell peppers, and a three-cheese blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan. A lighter take on homemade pizza using toaster oven-friendly portions.

Sweet pickles brine cucumber chunks overnight, then bring them to a boil in apple cider vinegar with sugar, turmeric, mustard seed, allspice, and celery seed. Eight pints of golden, crunchy pickles by tomorrow.

Low and slow baby back ribs rubbed overnight and smoked for 5 hours with homemade BBQ sauce. Eight full racks feed a crowd and deliver that fall-off-the-bone tenderness every pitmaster chases.

Low fat yogurt onion dip blends plain yogurt with grated onion, lemon juice, parsley, horseradish, and a dash of hot sauce. A lighter alternative to sour cream onion dip with the same satisfying tang.

Chicken thighs coated in a Dijon mustard egg wash and baked with a basil-paprika breadcrumb crust until golden and crisp. A lighter oven-fried chicken with a tangy, spicy kick in just 40 minutes.

A lighter chocolate mousse made with low-calorie pudding mix, skim milk, and whipped egg whites sweetened with fructose. A hint of Grand Marnier adds elegance to this diabetic-friendly dessert that still feels like a treat.

A lighter take on classic stroganoff using canned tuna simmered in chicken broth with tomato sauce, mushrooms, and a creamy swirl of low-fat yogurt. Budget-friendly, low-fat comfort food that's on the table in 45 minutes.

Potato chowder with diced potatoes, grated carrot, and onion simmered in chicken broth, then finished with a creamy skim milk base thickened by a flour slurry. A lighter chowder with all the comfort and none of the heaviness.

This is an old Ruthenian peasant dish, very popular in the Carpathian Alps, as well as here in Fair Oaks, CA. Great for warming the tummy on a cold winter day. This is easy to prepare, and good as a luncheon dish served with salad, or as a first course soup prior to a lighter entree.