We add depth to the Tetra Pak tomatoes by simmering them with onions, tomato paste, garlic and red pepper flakes. This process also thickens the sauce so it lightly coats the penne instead of drowning it.
Tosca Reno's 30-minute cookies are a holiday favorite - she was even able to use the addictive sweets as a means of sneaking flax into her daughter's diet!
A generous swirl of creamy peanut butter adds an extra layer of decadence to these unbelievably clean brownies.
Our handy take on the classic German dessert maintains the decadent crumb topping but switches it up as personal-size cupcakes, with only 137 calories each!
These surprisingly light flapjacks are free of gluten and make perfect use of summer's sweet peaches!
Whip up a quick snack for the kiddies or a meal-on-the-go with just 4 ingredients and 8 minutes. Bonus: It's loaded with fiber!
Here's a good way to sneak some greens into your kids – and time into your schedule! These lasagna-style roll-ups can be made ahead of time and reheated for a quick, easy weeknight meal.
Bolognese sauce is a rich ragu that simmers for hours, coaxing flavor from aromatic vegetables. Our plant-based lentil bolognese honors its roots with steady (thankfully quicker!) preparation that persuades sweet notes from caramelized vegetables.
Whole milk, egg yolks and butter are what make traditional popovers high-saturated fat foods. Our version offers a golden, eggy, chewy yet healthy alternative that pairs well with soups and stews.
Baking in parchment keeps fish moist and makes cleanup practically effortless. Try substituting Pacific cod for similar results at a reduced cost, and reserve the second half of your fennel bulb for use in a salad: Try it with radicchio, toasted walnuts, cubes of pear and crumbled goat cheese.
Pappardelle - a wide, egg-based noodle - is topped with a sumptuous sauce made with ground beef and aromatic spices. Crumbled feta adorns the dish for a touch of saltiness to round out the meal.
This creamy Italian custard, which we've infused with a delicate orange scent, is light and refreshing and contains just 1 gram of fat.
Using a back-to-basics approach, Kelsey Nixon combines zesty, tropical flavors to complement the taste of this mild white fish.
Paella is composed of rice, meat and vegetables. In Valencia, where it's said to have originated, paellas are almost always single-protein dishes. Here in America, however, we like to mix fish, chicken and pork. Throw in some vegetables and you have a complete good-for-you one-dish meal.
A love for portobello burgers inspired this reader to find other ways to incorporate the meaty mushroom into her cooking. Her portobello mushroom recipe is filling enough to be eaten as a full meal!
An amazingly easy-to-prepare, delightfully sweet whole fish is paired with mild roasted fennel and onions, plus couscous – a complete meal with just 8 grams of fat.
Fake greasy takeout with this healthy twist on fried chicken, breaded with whole-wheat bread crumbs, cheese and thyme!
The blank canvas that it is, orzo perfectly picks up the flavors in our orange citrus vinaigrette. Springy fennel adds texture, plus dietary fiber, vitamin C, folate, potassium and manganese.
While poaching mild-flavored catfish in orange juice will help infuse this dish with a citrus fragrance, it's actually the orange zest that provides an intensely aromatic character.
Our clean chocolate cake is dense, fudgy and so visually appealing you'll want to serve it on a platter. While the taste and texture are truly indulgent, one slice rings in at a mere 160 calories and five grams of fat.
Here, we're using lamb chops, which look like miniature T-bone steaks. They're full of flavor and the fat is relatively easy to trim off.
This creamy curried chicken and lentil dish is brimming with flavor, and it’s even better the next day. Make it on Sunday and eat it for lunches and dinners all week.
Try this low-cal spread on multigrain crackers, as a dip for crudités, smoothed on whole-wheat bread in lieu of mayo for a flavorful sandwich or burger.
Eating a slice of our moist, slow-cooker pumpkin bread may actually improve your energy, thanks to its hearty dose of potassium.
Clean cook and host of FitTV's Healthy Decadence, Devin Alexander takes the fried out of a beloved chicken dish. It tastes so good you'll wonder why you've relied on the grease for so long!
Meaning "little pizza" in Italian, a pizzetta is light in size but big on taste. Peppery arugula and crisp radicchio complement the creaminess of the mushrooms and goat cheese.
For Thanksgiving traditionalists, skipping the stuffing is out of the question, so we upped the nutrition content with whole-wheat sourdough bread and meaty portobello mushrooms.
Don't pay in pounds because you want a delightfully decadent brunch! These waffles are also delicious topped with low-fat ricotta and fresh berries.
One of the defining features of Mexican mole is a touch of chocolate in the sauce, and we've mimicked the effect with a few tablespoons of cocoa powder in this low-cal chili!
Aside from ample health benefits in Sonja Finn's low-cal salad, there's a bounty of textures and flavors to experience – from the chewy feel of farro between your teeth, juxtaposed with smooth and creamy avocado, to the tangy taste of the Chile-Mint Vinaigrette.
Miso – an exceptionally nutritious fermented soybean paste originally from Japan – and maple syrup come together to create a scintillating fusion of flavors and a lovely caramelized glaze on the broiled fish.
Instead of simply slapping some cheese between two slices of bread (as usual!) why not add black beans and shredded chicken to the mix for a little Mexican infusion?
Crab cakes often include little-to-no actual crustacean, but Food Network star Ellie Krieger's recipe lets the crab shine through by only panko-crusting the exterior.
Pancakes need not be confined to breakfast. These buckwheat dessert cakes, peppered with antioxidant-rich blueberries, stay moist (and flavorful) with the help of ricotta and orange juice.
These vegetarian patties are simple, versatile and addictive! Enjoy them on their own with a dollop of our rich garlic aioli or sandwich one between thin whole-grain buns for a veggie burger!
Clean up in the Mexican aisle. This favorite from south of the border is as piquant and satisfying as ever, with a hearty dose of protein and barely any cholesterol at all, unlike most traditional varieties.
With crispy noodles, piquant chile powder and chipotle, turkey and cheddar, plus a dollop of sour cream, this quick casserole is a trip to Mexico in less than an hour!
Finally! A guilt-free 5-layer Mexican dip! Have a fiesta with fresh flavors that won't make you hesitate to dip your chip again and again.
Candice Kumai's salad gets an antioxidant boost from two kinds of berries, plus the heart-healthy omegas in raw walnuts and iron-laden spinach couple with a fat-free balsamic vinaigrette for a texturally satisfying, guilt-free lunch.
To lighten up our tuna wraps, we say so long to whole-wheat tortillas and opt instead for vibrant collard green leaves. In addition to shaving off the gluten, the fiber-rich greens have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Fiber-packed lentils lend this meatless burger nutritional pizzazz. They also hold their own next to meatier varieties, since lentils form a complete protein when paired with a whole grain (in this case, brown rice).
These clean calzones, or pizza pockets, are full of Mediterranean flavor – plus a whopping 19 grams of fiber!
Bursting with meaty goodness and doused in tasty red sauce, you'll need two napkins and a fork for this one! Buy the leanest ground beef or bison you can find, preferably grass-fed and free-range for maximum beefy flavor.
Brimming with fresh ingredients, this simple side comes courtesy of Las Vegas chef Shawn McClain.
This refreshing Indian mainstay, straight out of Bob Blumer's Glutton for Pleasure cookbook, blends banana, mango, yogurt and ice. This low-fat lassi is sure to please.
This cool and refreshing skim milk shake gets its yellow color from ripe mango and sweet-sour pineapple, and a welcome kick from crystallized ginger.
Chef of Miami's Lifefood Gourmet and self-proclaimed "health motivator" John Schott shares a quick and easy chutney recipe that'll liven up all sorts of dishes.
Find out how one reader manages to serve up a lean burger that actually bursts with juiciness.
With the right ingredients, including applesauce, egg whites and Greek yogurt, you can create a low-fat dessert that still bakes into a moist and tender cake. Ground cinnamon satisfies your sweet tooth without spiking your blood sugar.
This fantasic lobster roll has the two key ingredients: lots of succulent lobster and a soft, toasted whole-grain bun.
Lobster. Grilled. Cheese. These three words ring like music to the ears. The crescendo? Each lobster grilled cheese has less than 300 grams of fat!
These mini dogs are ideal during warmer months when little bites are just the right amount! While sliders are traditionally mini beef patties, we've turned the popular dish on its ear by revamping it frank-style.
Dining alfresco with the warm sun waning doesn't get much better than steamed clams in a tangle of pasta with an herbed white wine and butter sauce. Your guests won't believe it only took you 20 minutes of work to make!
Set aside 12 minutes on a Sunday to prepare this hearty vegetarian stew, an easy lunch and supper during the week bursting with lentils, celery, carrot, sweet potato and tomatoes.
We use Za'atar, an addictive Middle Eastern spice blend, to season the nutritious grains that form the foundation of this flavorful fish dish.
Flexible pestos come in different variations, and we've modified the uncooked classic for taste and function. Ours packs a full serving of vegetables, and leftovers can be used on sandwiches, wraps and pizzas.
We borrowed the soft, light topping of a classic pie, cleaned it up and popped it onto a moist lemony cupcake for a lovely single-serving dessert!
All it takes are eight simple ingredients to make a cleaned-up classic that'll warm your bones – and you won't believe it's clean!
Thailand's most popular global dish gets a lean and budget-conscious makeover, with brown rice noodles and additional veggies for a fiber and antioxidant boost.
Use any kind of bread crumbs you prefer (fine, panko, homemade) as long as they're not too soft, as well as any apple variety that looks fresh.
Texan chef Mark Paul's exclusive recipe for the traditional, slow-cooked Italian favorite replaces veal shanks with lamb, offering up a warming dish that's sure to elicit more than a few smiles!
Hearty and robust, this dish is a Greek twist on a traditional Bolognese. Sharp feta and creamy, low-fat ricotta top it off and mint adds a pop of freshness.
Chef Jo's transformed food truck burger is based on a classic from Grill 'Em All, winners of Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race. The truck is the heavy metal brainchild of two longtime buddies who use fresh, local ingredients for their German-inspired beef burger.
Wear rubber gloves when handling chiles! Their heat, though excellent in this Chinese favorite, can transfer to your fingers and make wiping your eyes or nose a painful experience.
Korean jjigae, a stew often brimming with greens, tofu, meat, kimchi or seafood, goes clean in Chef Jo's 106-calorie version, a quick and easy meal to warm your bones (Gangnam-style).
On a trip to Los Angeles, Chef Jo fell in love with the plethora of food available in the city's varied trucks. Kogi BBQ's Kimchi Quesadillas, a hybrid of Korean and Mexican cuisine, were a definite favorite and she couldn't wait to clean them up! Naturally, accolades followed...
Chard and kale, with their unique vitamin profiles, offer additional nutritional benefits when paired. By adding golden raisins and fresh chopped garlic to the mix, you'll do wonders for the flavor impact of these Italian greens.
Soak up the numerous health benefits of olive oil with a taste of Tosca Reno's savory olive oil bread dip.
Smothered in marinara sauce and oozing with melted cheese, these sliders are seriously indulgent snack food. Your male guests will happily chomp away on these meaty bites – but only you'll know that they're less than 225 calories per serving!
Who needs instant soup, with dehydrated bits of chicken, when you can make this in only 10 minutes? Look for the soft presliced sun-dried tomatoes to save time.
Give your heart some love with this double whammy leek salad: antioxidant-rich artichokes have been shown to help lower cholesterol and leeks have been shown to have positive effects on blood vessels. Plus, you'll be showing your taste buds some love, too!
The usual lard- or butter-laden crusts of this classic comfort dish are far from comforting. We’ve topped our “pies” with tasty whole-wheat biscuits, slimming the eats without forgoing flavor.
A potpourri of spices – cardamom, coriander, turmeric, cumin, curry – and various veggies give our vegetarian chili ample Indian flavor for a mere 132 calories.
India's popular rice dish is a meal in a bowl, and ours offers a complete protein thanks to the combination of rice and lentils! Dried currants, toasted almonds and fresh herbs give this 15-minute dish added intrigue.
Stunning rainbow (or Bright Lights) Swiss chard is a colorful alternative to the standard, with vibrant yellow, pink and purple hues and the same antioxidants you know and love.
Tender spears of asparagus hug our salmon, and are topped with a tangy, hollandaise-style sauce. We don't mind when some of the creamy condiment runs into our smashed redskins either...
You can make these honey mustard chicken thighs up to 8 hours in advance and, at the last minute, simply coat them with the sauce and bake.
Sweet oranges and tart cranberries make a perfect pair when you want to perk up your plate with tang and color. Adding orange peel as you begin cooking your rice, and orange juice at the end of the process, lends a smooth flavor and fragrance to this cranberry chicken.
Homemade honey-mustard sauce beats the processed varieties any day. Complement your seasoned salmon with brown lentils, which are easy to find and hold their shape when cooked.