116 red fat recipes

Baked Idaho potatoes topped with a creamy broccoli, mushroom, turkey ham, and Dijon mustard sauce made with yogurt instead of cream. A lighter loaded potato that's microwave-quick.

Smoky black bean chili with bell peppers, summer squash, and jalapeño spooned over split baked sweet potatoes. Vegan-friendly, make-ahead friendly, and loaded with fiber.

Insalata pizzas with garlic-mozzarella pita bases topped with dressed greens, grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh basil. A 20-minute hot-meets-cold vegetarian dinner that eats like pizza and salad in one bite.

Oaxaca tostada bites: tortilla chips topped with a mole-spiced black bean mash of cocoa, cumin, and cinnamon, cool avocado cream, pepper jack, and lettuce. A no-cook, party-ready Mexican appetizer.

Homemade sweet pepper and onion pizza on a whole wheat crust with fat-free mozzarella, mushrooms, and garlic. A lighter veggie pizza made from scratch with a crispy cornmeal-dusted base.

Black eyed pea casserole layers spiced ground beef, black-eyed peas, and tomatoes between torn corn tortillas and melty cheddar, then bakes it into a hearty Tex-Mex bake with a Creole kick.

Vegetable lasagna layered with zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and a red wine tomato sauce. Make-ahead and lighter than meat lasagna, with cottage cheese standing in for ricotta.

Layered confetti macaroni casserole with whole wheat pasta, cottage cheese, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, and tomatoes. No-boil casserole, healthy weeknight dinner.

This colorful version of corn chowder features a medley of spices and fills the kitchen with aroma.

Might want to eat it with a blindfold. It tastes a hell of a lot better than it looks.

Fresh herb turkey loaf with oats, egg whites, red bell pepper, celery, parsley, and basil. A lighter take on meatloaf that's leaner and packed with vegetables.

Vegetarian fava bean burgers with oats, wheat germ, shredded carrots, and Italian herbs. Pan-fried and oven-finished for a crispy outside and firm, set center.

Creamy corn and bell pepper chowder: a low-fat skim-milk chowder with sweet corn, red bell peppers, scallions, and shallots. Pureed corn gives it body without heavy cream.

I added some pureed strawberries and a couple of drops of red food coloring to make the cake pink.

California-style chilled gazpacho built from peak summer tomatoes, English cucumber, red bell peppers, jalapeno, serrano, and a chiffonade of fresh herbs. Vegan, low-fat, and made for blistering Sonoma afternoons.

Roasted mini red potatoes, roasted in their skins, retain a deep, earthy taste and absorb less fat too. The garlic smooths, sweetens and mellows. Perfect for the holidays or any time.