242 plain recipes

Edible cake-decorating roses and leaves shaped from a marshmallow-and-powdered-sugar fondant. A budget-friendly alternative to professional gum paste for birthday and wedding cakes.

A hearty Bulgarian stew of lentils and navy beans simmered with sweet red peppers, paprika, and herbs in a rich broth deepened with prune juice and tomato paste. Vegan-friendly and high in fiber.

White Beans, Greens & Sun-Dried Tomato Crosti recipe

Bean-free turkey chili slow-cooked overnight with cocoa, cinnamon, and cumin for deep, complex flavor. A dump-and-go crockpot recipe using turkey thighs and fresh jalapeños.

Fruit soups provide a nice way to cool off and only take about 10 minutes to prepare. Fruit soups can play the role of appetizer or dessert.

Chinese chicken salad with shredded roast chicken, bean sprouts, cucumber, and carrots in a sesame-tahini dressing with soy sauce, garlic, and rice wine. Crisp, nutty, and satisfying.

Crusty no-knead Dutch oven bread loaded with cornmeal, corn grits, millet, and whole wheat. An overnight rise builds deep flavor and a crackling, golden crust.

Curried tuna salad stuffs a hollowed-out red bell pepper with tuna, chickpeas, currants, almonds, and a yogurt-curry dressing. A bright Indian-spiced lunch that uses the pepper as both bowl and ingredient.

Vegetarian mushroom stroganoff with paprika, lemon zest, and strained yogurt in a reduced vegetable stock sauce. Low-fat, creamy, and packed with earthy mushroom flavor.

Sliced bananas, crisp apples, juicy oranges, crushed pineapple, and green grapes folded into creamy vanilla yogurt. A lighter spin on classic ambrosia that's ready in minutes and feeds a crowd.

Turkey loaf with spinach is a lean food-processor meatloaf: pureed turkey breast with carrot and onion wrapped around a spinach-Parmesan filling, baked into a pinwheel-sliced main. Low-fat, high-protein, and elegant enough for company.

Low-fat vegetarian chili with kidney beans, bulgur wheat, and jalapeno ready in 30 minutes. Braised in vegetable stock instead of oil for a lighter, healthier bowl.

Curried turkey cutlets simmered in a pineapple-ginger sauce with plump dried apricots, fresh mint, and a cool yogurt dollop. A fast weeknight skillet dinner ready in under 30 minutes.

Curried turkey pasta salad tosses leftover turkey with whole wheat shells, mango chutney, toasted almonds, and a yogurt-mayo dressing bloomed in warm curry powder. A bright, crunchy use for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Curried potato chowder with caramelized onions, white wine, dry mustard, and nonfat yogurt stirred in at the end. A lighter, lower-fat chowder with bold Indian-inspired flavor.

Delicious and dramatic, this dish is a mosaic of colors. It's easy enough to make for a simple family dinner but impressive enough to serve to guests.