Leafy Greens

WHY IT’S LIGHT Just three-quarters of a pound of beef serves four as a main course when rolled around a filling of peppers and cheese and accompanied by a leafy salad. This dish is just as delicious (and even leaner) with chicken or turkey cutlets instead of beef.

GOOD TO KNOW Often served raw in salads, peppery arugula can also be heated briefly until wilted, just like spinach. It pairs nicely not only with shrimp, as in this quick sauté, but also with chicken, steak, and sharp cheeses, such as Parmesan and Pecorino Romano.

FLAVOR BOOSTERS This one-dish meal is a great example of how the bright notes of lemon (zest and juice) and parsley can help reduce the need for unwanted fat. The recipe is very adaptable; if you have other vegetables such as fresh spinach or snap peas on hand, add them to the couscous at the end. You can also substitute the leg and thigh meat from a rotisserie chicken.

WHY IT’S LIGHT This dish only sounds indulgent. It stays trim by combining a modest piece of bacon-wrapped fish with a generous salad. Thick fillets of any firm, flaky, and mild fish, such as halibut, haddock, or striped bass, would work well here.

GOOD TO KNOW A favorite sandwich, redux: Instead of battering and deep-frying, fish fillets are cooked on the grill, with a mere brush of oil. Top with a tangy slaw and serve on toasted bread, and you won’t miss the original in the least.

GOOD TO KNOW Like chickpeas and other legumes, lentils are high in fiber and protein and have very little fat. Adding them to main dishes allows you to cut back on the amount of animal-based proteins such as poultry and beef.

GOOD TO KNOW Rotisserie chicken is a good shortcut (use only the breast meat) if you don’t have time to poach your own. Corn tortillas—crisped in the oven instead of fried—rovide a crunchy base for a filling salad packed with Mexican flavors. We’ve started with tomato, avocado, red onion, and cilantro, but you can add other favorite ingredients such as sliced radishes or corn—and perhaps a little reduced-fat sour cream in place of Mexican crema.

WHY IT’S LIGHT A springtime pasta dish forgoes heavy sauce in favor of a toss-together topping of arugula, lemon zest and juice, and extra-virgin olive oil. A generous amount of Pecorino Romano cheese ensures the dish satisfies both appetite and palate.

SMART SUBSTITUTIONS This recipe is inspired by saag paneer, an Indian dish traditionally made with soft, fresh cheese; here, the cheese is replaced with tofu, which is lower in fat. Reduced-fat sour cream, instead of coconut milk, thickens the curry sauce.

FLAVOR BOOSTER This modern take on velvety vichyssoise (potato-leek soup) contains no cream or even milk. Watercress adds surprising flavor—and color—to the warm soup.

SMART SUBSTITUTIONS The dressing in this healthier chef’s salad omits the mayonnaise and includes a combination of low-fat buttermilk and reduced-fat sour cream in its place. A mere tablespoon of honey helps to thicken it. Plus we’ve left out the eggs, ham, and croutons from the salad in favor of turkey, avocado, and sprouts.

FLAVOR BOOSTER Boiling the dressing—made with soy sauce, lemon juice, and toasted sesame oil—gives it depth and balance. Because the chicken and vegetables are all either shredded or thinly sliced, they mingle with the cooled dressing and readily soak up its flavors.

GOOD TO KNOW For a more satisfying meal, try incorporating just a small amount of a flavorful high-fat ingredient such as bacon or nuts into the low-calorie mix. Here pancetta is crisped in the oven for handsoff, splatter-free cooking, a method that works well for bacon, too.

SMART SUBSTITUTION Unlike white rice, brown rice retains the nutritious bran and germ covering the grain; it has three times the amount of fiber and a host of essential nutrients. Adding brown rice and other whole grains to salads makes them more filling without significantly increasing fat and calories.

WHY IT’S LIGHT Our recipe for a hearty steakhouse side tweaks the formula for greater emphasis on the spinach and less on the “cream.” In fact, despite its name, there’s no cream in this dish. Instead, a mixture of flour and just one tablespoon of butter thickens a silky béchamel sauce.

WHY IT’S LIGHT The whole eggs in these individual frittatas are supplemented with egg whites for fewer calories and less cholesterol. They still taste rich, though, thanks to a small amount of nutty Gruyère cheese. Customize the recipe by adding fresh herbs, chopped cooked vegetables, or even a bit of cubed ham to the egg mixture before baking.

FLAVOR BOOSTER Instead of water, the polenta is cooked in a combination of skim milk and low-sodium chicken broth. A dab of butter, stirred in at the end, adds just the right amount of richness.