32 top low recipes

Fresh tomato soup made with whole Roma tomatoes, celery, onion, and chicken broth, simmered and strained for a clean, bright bowl. Topped with cool yogurt. Gluten-free, low-fat, ready in 45 minutes.

A thin-crust homemade pizza baked on hot tiles for a crisp base, with garlic oil, tomato sauce, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and cottage cheese in place of mozzarella. A lighter, vegetable-loaded family-night pie.

Mexican-style lasagna with ground beef, green chilies, corn, and cheddar cheese layered in a cumin-spiced picante tomato sauce. Topped with sour cream and olives.

Pimblett's shepherd's pie: ground beef (technically cottage pie) with thyme, sage, carrots, and Dijon under a nutmeg-scented mashed potato crown. A classic British pub pie baked bubbling golden.

Red velvet pound cake baked low and slow in a tube pan with cocoa, shortening, and seven eggs for a dense, velvety crumb. Topped with cream cheese icing.

One-pot rice and black beans with garlic, carrots, thyme, and allspice simmered in stock. Low-fat, filling, and topped with cool yogurt and fresh parsley.

Roman Holiday Soup: a low-fat Italian minestrone with white beans, green beans, macaroni, and a tomato-garlic-basil swirl stirred in at the end. Ready in 40 minutes, topped with Parmesan.

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.

Chunky beef chili: cubed beef chuck simmered low with tomatoes, green pepper, onion, garlic, and chili powder until tender. Texas-style no-bean chili built for piling toppings on top.

Baked rice and beans casserole with cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and shredded carrots. A low-calorie vegetarian one-dish meal with a bubbly cheese top.

Black beans and fettuccine topped with a spiced ketchup-tomato sauce, steamed broccoli, and colorful bell peppers. A low-calorie vegetarian pasta that feeds a crowd.

Maple-apple oatmeal cookies with real maple syrup, fresh apples, applesauce, currants, and a crunchy oat-brown sugar topping. Soft, cakey fall cookies baked low and slow.

Lighter chocolate oat squares with low-fat yogurt and just 3 tablespoons of butter, topped with a cocoa cream cheese icing. A fudgy, moist bar that satisfies chocolate cravings without the guilt.

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

Meat filled green peppers in a spicy tomato cream sauce. A hand me down family recipe that I have greatly modified & finally written down.

Low-fat vegetarian stew packed with sweet potatoes, okra, cabbage, and tomatoes, brightened with fresh ginger, lime juice, and cilantro. Topped with crunchy peanuts.