7,057 light recipes

Silky cucumber soup brightened with lemongrass, spinach, and cilantro. Serve it warm or chilled for a light, fragrant starter that comes together in 40 minutes.

Chicken breasts poached in herbed broth with leeks, carrots, red pepper, and elbow macaroni, finished with fresh thyme and Parmesan. A nourishing, light soup.

Brown rice pilaf with mushrooms, shredded carrots, marjoram, and green onions cooked in chicken broth. A light, low-calorie side dish ready in under 20 minutes.

Light and crisp egg-whipped anise biscotti made with cornstarch for extra snap. Nut-free, piped from a pastry bag, and twice-baked golden. The ideal dunking cookie for coffee or tea.

Coconut custard pie with freshly grated coconut, beaten egg whites folded in for a light filling, and a dusting of nutmeg on top. Southern-style and old-fashioned.

Chilled peach strawberry soup blended with yogurt and lemon juice. A no-cook fruit soup that's light, creamy, and ready after a quick chill. Swap in nectarines when peaches aren't in season.

Lemony summer squash sauteed in walnut oil with garlic, rosemary, and fresh lemon juice. A quick, five-ingredient side dish that's light, bright, and diabetic-friendly.

Orange layer cake with a from-scratch orange curd filling and orange buttercream frosting. Light, citrusy layers made with whipped egg whites and fresh orange zest.

Oysters Bingo are lightly breaded fresh oysters sauteed golden in butter, then drizzled with a creamy pan sauce of white wine, oyster juice, lemon, and shallots.

Pasta salad primavera: warm or cold pasta tossed with broccoli, red pepper, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. A light, vegetable-forward Italian spring salad that works any temperature.

Fluffy quinoa tossed with black beans, ripe tomatoes, scallions, and cilantro in a zesty lime-butter dressing. High-fiber, vegetarian, and packed with protein. Great as a side or a light main.

Deep-fried corn and sausage fritters with beaten egg whites for an extra-light, puffy texture. Fresh corn kernels and crumbled sausage in a paprika-spiced batter.

Seafood soup with garlic and ginger features tender shrimp and scallops in a clear chicken broth infused with sweet leeks, scallions and fresh aromatics. Light and warming.

Swedish herring and potato casserole layered with sauteed onions, dotted with butter, and baked in cream until golden and tender. A traditional Scandinavian comfort dish.

Peppermint meringue kisses with crushed red and green candy canes sprinkled over delicate egg-white peaks. The light-as-air holiday cookie that's naturally gluten-free and fat-free.

Four-ingredient maple syrup souffle made with beaten egg whites, powdered sugar, and baking powder. Light as air with pure maple flavor in every spoonful.