2,691 light recipes

Olive oil pie crust pressed straight into the pan with no rolling required. A simple, dairy-light Mediterranean-leaning pastry that mixes in 10 minutes and chills firm in half an hour.

Mussel and tomato soup: a quick four-ingredient Italian-style seafood soup with garlic, olive oil, plum tomatoes, and fresh mussels. Ready in 40 minutes for a light appetizer or main.

Stir-fried long beans (or green beans) with red bell pepper and nutty wild rice, finished with a touch of sugar for balance. Quick, light side dish for any main.

A quick pasta with sweet red, yellow and green peppers, scallions and a hit of fennel seed, all tossed in olive oil. Light, colorful and meatless, on the table in about 30 minutes.

Spicy tofu salad with julienned vegetables, chopped peanuts, and a chili-soy-rice vinegar dressing. Thai-inspired, loaded with crunch, and completely plant-based.

Low-fat Dutch apple cake spreads a thin, biscuit-like batter under overlapping cinnamon-sugar apples. Egg whites and skim milk keep it light, more fruit than cake in every slice.

Chewy coconut almond macaroons made with homemade almond paste, ground coconut, and egg whites. Naturally gluten-free, crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Ful medames is a traditional Egyptian stewed fava bean dish simmered with red lentils, cumin, lemon juice, and olive oil. Hearty, vegan, and high in protein.

Chicken-stuffed mushrooms with garlic, parsley, and bread crumbs baked until golden. Poached chicken breast filling bound with egg yolk for a rich appetizer.

Pureed vegetable soup with broccoli florets: silky potato-thickened base of carrots, celery, onion, and garlic with thyme and nutmeg, then scattered with steamed broccoli florets for bite.

Mystery pizza with a ricotta cheese crust made from just ricotta and flour, topped with tomato paste, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms, and mozzarella. A gluten-light, no-yeast personal pizza.

Light linguine with white clam sauce made with canned clams simmered in their own briny liquid with onion, parsley, and Parmesan. A low-fat Italian pasta that lets the clean ocean flavor of the clams shine through.

Whole garlic heads roasted in chicken broth with fresh thyme until soft and spreadable. Served with creamy goat cheese and toasted sourdough bread.

Asian vegetable fried rice with broccoli, red pepper, bamboo shoots, and straw mushrooms stir-fried in sesame oil with soy sauce. A low-fat, five-ingredient side dish or light main using frozen mixed vegetables.

The tang of Dijon mustard and the smoothness of whipping cream combine with the light flavor of champagne or white wine to make this a wonderful, easy sauce for fish.

Cafe con miel is Spanish honey coffee with warm milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. A cozy 20-minute drink that doubles as a light dessert. Three ingredients you already have.