7,057 light recipes

Ridiculously easy lentil soup simmers brown lentils with sauteed onion and garlic, then finishes with fresh lemon juice. Eight ingredients, pantry-friendly, vegan.

Fruit and tofu pie layers honey-sweetened peaches and coconut under a silky blended tofu-cream cheese custard, baked in a pastry shell. A lighter dessert with hidden protein.

Rustic drop biscuit shortcakes topped with two quarts of maple syrup-soaked strawberries and frozen vanilla yogurt. A lighter spin on the classic that's ready in 20 minutes.

Eggplant manicotti stuffs pasta shells with garlic-roasted eggplant, charred red pepper, and tomato, then tops them with a creamy spinach-cottage cheese sauce. A lighter take on the Italian classic.

Thin-pounded round steak dredged in dry mustard and spices, pan-fried golden, and served with a red wine and mushroom pan sauce. A bold, peppery beef dish that feeds eight.

White chicken chili with white beans, green chiles, poblano pepper, cumin, and oregano. A lighter, brothy chili loaded with garnish options.

Crisp, flourless oatmeal pecan lace cookies with a delicate see-through pattern and buttery caramel snap. Five minutes of mixing, eight minutes to bake, perfect rolled into cornucopias.

Gluten-free quinoa jambalaya built on a whole-wheat flour roux, crushed tomatoes, bell pepper, and celery. A lighter Louisiana-inspired one-pot with optional shrimp.

Broiled potato skins loaded with a fresh corn, black bean, tomato, and cucumber salsa with cilantro and lime, topped with melted cheese. A lighter take on loaded potato skins using Southwestern flavors.

German apple torte (apfeltorte): a butterless single-layer cake with diced apples and walnuts, golden and crunchy on top. Eight ingredients, 60 minutes, serves six.

Stracci pasta tossed with eight fresh herbs, extra-virgin olive oil, Romano cheese, and chopped tomatoes. An Italian herb pasta where the uncooked herb sauce is the star.

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.

Italian-style pot roast is a beef chuck braised for three hours with soffritto, tomato paste, red wine, and Italian herbs. Sliced beef plus pasta sauce over spaghetti, feeds eight.

A lighter take on English trifle with sponge cake, strawberries, banana, orange juice, and Greek yogurt topped with flaked almonds. No cooking, no custard, ready in 40 minutes.

Sesame ham and cheese bites: layered ham-prosciutto-Gruyere squares breaded with sesame seeds and parsley breadcrumbs, baked until golden and melty. Forty-eight bite-sized party appetizers.

Crispy pan-fried chicken dumplings stuffed with napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, and ginger served with a sweet-tangy orange marmalade dipping sauce. A lighter homemade potsticker you can prep ahead.