24 low serving recipes

Pumpkin soup gently spiced with whole cloves, sweetened with honey, and finished with cream. Smooth, autumn-bright puréed soup that holds up overnight for make-ahead dinner parties.

Country-style pork spareribs braised low and slow with sauerkraut, paprika, caraway seeds, and crispy floured bacon. A hearty German classic best served with dark bread and cold beer.

A professional-grade chocolate Bundt cake enriched with coffee and bourbon, served with rosewater whipped cream. Baked low and slow for an intensely fudgy crumb.

German spareribs and sauerkraut braised low and slow for 3 to 4 hours with paprika, caraway seeds, and beef bouillon. Finished with crispy fried bacon and served with dark bread.

Curried lentils and vegetables simmered with fresh ginger, curry powder, carrots, and celery. Low-fat, high-protein, and served with a cool yogurt-tomato topping.

Heirloom fruitcake packs candied cherries, pineapple, citron, dates, raisins and pecans into a spice-laden batter, baked low and slow then aged a month with wine before serving.

Cinnamon oatmeal topped with chopped apple, dates, sliced almonds, and brown sugar served with skim milk. A wholesome, low-calorie breakfast bowl.

Cocoa meringue cake: two crisp cocoa-free meringue disks sandwiched with a mocha-chocolate filling and served in a pool of bright raspberry sauce. An elegant, low-fat dessert showpiece.

Blanched escarole leaves stuffed with marinated chickpeas, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and white wine vinegar. A vegan, low-fat Italian appetizer served at room temperature.

Summer vegetable saute with squash, bell pepper, green onions, and fresh tomato seasoned with chili powder. A quick low-fat vegetarian side served over rice.

Lentil and spinach soup brightened with lemon juice, coriander, and a slick of olive oil. A vegan, gluten-free Middle Eastern-style soup served with pita. High in fiber, low in fuss.

Grilled vegetable kabobs with yellow squash, boiling onions, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms basted in Italian dressing with basil and parsley. Low-calorie and served over brown rice.

Spiced stewed pumpkin cubes cooked in a vinegar broth with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. A low-calorie side dish served warm or cold, with no added sugar.

Cincinnati chili: thin, spiced ground beef sauce with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and a touch of molasses, simmered low and slow. Serve over spaghetti with cheddar, onions, and beans.

Big-batch coarsely ground sirloin chili simmered low for 6 hours with bell peppers, celery, tomatoes, and green chiles. Beans optional. Serves 16 for chili night or game day.

Velvety puréed spinach soup loaded with fresh basil, dill, and russet potatoes for body. Naturally low-fat and dairy-free, this herb-forward bowl serves a crowd in under an hour.