402 plain recipes

Lightened-up haluski-style cabbage and angel hair pasta in vegetable broth, finished with cool sour cream or yogurt. Old-world Eastern European peasant food made vegetarian and weeknight-fast.

Sparkling fruit smoothies blend yogurt, fresh fruit, and a pinch of nutmeg, topped with champagne, sparkling water, or ginger ale. A fizzy brunch drink ready in minutes.

Crunchy low-fat coleslaw with shredded green apples, red and green cabbage, and a tangy honey-mustard yogurt dressing. No mayo needed for this crisp, make-ahead slaw.

Radishes in cream: a 10-minute peppery radish salad in a tangy sour cream, yogurt, and horseradish dressing. Served in crisp lettuce cups. A classic Eastern European spring side.

Sliced beefsteak tomatoes topped with a creamy herb dressing made from yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh garden herbs. A no-cook summer side that chills before serving.

A creamy and delicious dip is also much lower fat. Serve it with carrot sticks, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, tortilla chips or bagel chips or crackers.

Vegetarian sweet onion fajitas loaded with Vidalia onions, new potatoes, roma tomatoes, and carrots simmered in white wine with jalapeño and cilantro. Rolled up with Monterey Jack and yogurt in warm flour tortillas.

A light and tasty potato salad. The cucumber and bell peppers add the crunchiness and refreshing taste, a great side dish at a hot summer day.

Can use other grains or fruit that go with yogurt.

Oven-baked "un-fried" chicken coated in yogurt and seasoned Italian bread crumbs with Old Bay and Creole spices. Crispy, flavorful, and low-fat with no deep frying required.

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.

Roasted potato and surimi salad: red potatoes roasted hot with garlic, then tossed with imitation crab, hard-boiled eggs, and a dilled mayo-yogurt dressing. A lighter upgrade to classic potato salad.

Pear avocado mousse blended with dark rum, orange zest, chopped peanuts, and allspice. A no-cook, dairy-free dessert with a silky, tropical-spiced richness.

Blinchaty pirog is a Russian layered crepe pie filled with seasoned ground beef, mushrooms, red wine, and dill, topped with a cool yogurt sauce. A showstopping centerpiece dish.

A rich and delicious cheesecake that's simple to make and easy to enjoy!

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.