7,057 light recipes

A simple vegetarian pasta dish with butter beans (lima beans) in a light, creamy sauce. Quick, budget-friendly, and ready in 40 minutes with pantry staples.

Lobster chunks poached in herbed chicken broth with fresh mushrooms and garden vegetables, finished with lime juice. A light, elegant seafood dish ready in 30 minutes.

Tender sour cream sheet cake with black walnut flavoring, topped with a quick-cook caramel frosting loaded with chopped nuts. One pan, one hour, and a frosting that comes together on the stovetop.

Pasta tossed with green peas, scallions, and fresh basil in a butter-vermouth sauce. A light, spring-inspired dish that comes together in 30 minutes.

Citrus soup frappe: a chilled, lightly jellied dessert soup of orange, raspberry, and lemon juices laced with red wine, Sauterne, and kirsch. A vintage Continental starter or palate-cleansing finale.

Cappellini with a vibrant pureed herb-spinach sauce, nutmeg, and Parmesan. A light, veggie-packed pasta dinner on the table in 25 minutes. Diabetic-friendly too.

Oatmeal snickerdoodles cross a chewy oatmeal cookie with a classic cinnamon-sugar snickerdoodle. Five dozen cookies, ten-minute bake, plenty for the cookie jar or to share.

Napa cabbage and cilantro slaw with red bell pepper in a lime-garlic dressing with red pepper flakes. A crisp, light Asian-style coleslaw that's mayo-free and ready in 20 minutes.

Vegan black bean and corn casserole with cornmeal, stewed tomatoes, green chiles, and a nutritional yeast cheesy sauce. Hearty, plant-based Tex-Mex comfort food in a single pan.

Light western omelets with turkey ham, red and green bell peppers, and extra egg whites for volume without extra fat. A low-calorie high-protein breakfast ready in 20 minutes.

Catskill Mountain rye bread for the bread machine with rye flour, caraway seeds, and honey. Vital wheat gluten keeps the loaf tall and light despite the dense rye. Great for sandwiches and toast.

Deep-fried banana pieces coated in a light baking powder batter and drizzled with honey. A crispy, golden, four-ingredient dessert ready in under 30 minutes.

Buttermilk ranch dressing whisks together tangy buttermilk, light mayo, white wine vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs for a homemade ranch that beats anything bottled. Five minutes, no special equipment.

Homemade pancake batter from scratch with flour, egg, milk, and shortening. Double-sifted dry ingredients make thick, light pancakes every time.

Strawberry raspberry yogurt shake with skim milk, low-fat yogurt, and vanilla. Light, frothy, and naturally sweet with fresh mashed berries.

Grapefruit mousse: light citrus mousse with grapefruit juice, gin-spiked gelatin, and whipped cream. Layered in parfait glasses with fresh strawberries.