Recipes - Lunch & Light Dishes

All Recipes | Breakfast | Lunch & Light Dishes | Dinner | Treats | Key Recipes
Asparagus and Eggs with Creamy Lemon Sauce $1.46 per serving
Asparagus and Eggs with Creamy Lemon Sauce
A springtime treat, bright-green asparagus spears are topped with pan-poached eggs. The creamy mayo-mustard-lemon sauce brings it all together. The sauce, a Dijonnaise with citrus, is ridiculously easy to make, and our "pan-poaching" method proves more dependable than traditional poaching. Savor as a light lunch or brunch. It will give you that "I' ... read more
BBQ-Baked Beans 68¢ per serving
BBQ-Baked Beans
(5.0)
Fun to cook over an open fire in a cast iron pan, this summery classic takes little labor, whether you cook outdoors or in.
Black Bean, Corn, and Zucchini Fritters with Creamy Dipping Sauce $1.51 per serving
Black Bean, Corn, and Zucchini Fritters with Creamy Dipping Sauce
(4.5)
These savory pancakes are a great way to enjoy many different vegetables and create a satisfying and healthful meal. We started with zucchini, beans, and corn, the revered "three sisters" of Iroquois tradition, and gave it a Southwestern point of view with black beans and cilantro. Sauteéd onion adds a sweetness that complements the texture of the ... read more
Brie Panini with Fresh Pear and Red Fruit Jam $1.70 per serving
Brie Panini with Fresh Pear and Red Fruit Jam
(4.5)
A luscious combination of creamy cheese and slightly crisp pear slices grilled in a pan makes for a marvelous lunch. The red fruit jam (strawberry or raspberry will do) adds a touch of sweetness that complements the rich notes in the brie. A fancy foodie treat for a great price!
Chickpea, Tomato, Mint, and Feta Salad with Garlic-Parmesan Crostini $2.79 per serving
Chickpea, Tomato, Mint, and Feta Salad with Garlic-Parmesan Crostini
(5.0)
This light but filling salad is loaded with protein and vitamins. Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber, while feta adds protein, calcium, and B-vitamins and a foodie touch to this inexpensive dish. The mint really makes it if you can find fresh mint at a good price (we often grow our own), though you can substitute other fresh or dried herbs if ... read more
Creamy Homemade Hummus $1.08 per serving
Creamy Homemade Hummus
(5.0)
Hummus is incredibly easy to make at home. This recipe calls for mainly pantry ingredients, and is about 5,000 times tastier than store-bought (not to mention cheaper!). We perfected our hummus with just the right amount of tahini, fresh lemon, garlic, and a pinch of cumin. You can serve this creamy dish so many different ways: on lightly toasted p ... read more
Flatbread Napoletana $1.58 per serving
Flatbread Napoletana
Flatbread pizza is good, fast, and cheap! Our kitchen hackers discovered that an uncooked (raw) flour tortilla delivers the perfect consistency of a thin crust loaded with sweet tomato sauce, veggies, and a sprinkling of goat cheese—a real treat. It makes a quick dinner, or a tantalizing appetizer that you can serve guests. Alternatively, you can u ... read more
Gazpacho 73¢ per serving
Gazpacho
Cool, refreshing, and bright with tomatoes, this soup originated in southern Spain, where summers get really hot. Perfect for a summer night at home, perfect as a party appetizer served in small glasses, perfect for lunches and picnics, gazpacho fits our agenda in every way. It's healthful, inexpensive, simple to make, and full of lively flavors.
Japanese Soba Noodles with Fresh Vegetables $1.51 per serving
Japanese Soba Noodles with Fresh Vegetables
(5.0)
Japanese soba (buckwheat) noodles are readily available in most grocery stores and are especially good when served cold, with fresh vegetables and a bit of tamari or soy sauce. This is a great time to cut costs by chopping up a few fresh vegetables you have left over from other recipes. Cabbage, carrots, bell pepper along with any other availab ... read more
Lemon-Spinach Orzo $1.63 per serving
Lemon-Spinach Orzo
(5.0)
This light, flavorful dish is full of lemon-scented pasta, garlic, and hearty greens. It's so simple to make, which is another reason to love it. Serve it on its own or as a side dish (without the feta and olives) to accompany our Chicken with Plum Tomato and Prosciutto. Or you might like to add a few pieces of grilled chicken or fish with a squeez ... read more
Mediterranean Quinoa-Lentil Salad with Fresh Herbs $2.57 per serving
Mediterranean Quinoa-Lentil Salad with Fresh Herbs
(5.0)
For a fresh take on a Mediterranean salad, we combined lentils, quinoa, fresh herbs, raisins, and cucumber, with a creamy lemon vinaigrette. The key to a wildly tasty and satisfying salad is a balance of textures and flavors—crunchy, smooth, sweet, and tangy—and it's all here, complemented by a bright, fresh homemade dressing you can make in minute ... read more
Mushrooms Stuffed with Chile & Onion $1.67 per serving
Mushrooms Stuffed with Chile & Onion
(5.0)
Start with fresh mushroom caps (white or baby portabellas work nicely) and let nothing go to waste by combining the mushroom stems with onion, garlic, and sweet anaheim chile in a sauté pan. With an optional splash of beer, the smoky flavors are concentrated into a luscious filling. Precooking the vegetables and mushroom caps eliminates the excess ... read more
Olive and Herb Tuna Wrap $1.59 per serving
Olive and Herb Tuna Wrap
(3.5)
Tuna is an excellent source of protein (here 15 grams per serving!), B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Plus it’s inexpensive and makes a quick and easy lunch. Zesty bits of olive and fresh dill balance the flavors and let this dish stand out.
Orange and Honey Glazed Carrots 59¢ per serving
Orange and Honey Glazed Carrots
Carrots with green stems, when available, make an especially eye-catching presentation for this side. Left whole for glazing, the carrots can be garnished with their decorative greens for serving. We love this as part of a trio of colorful and economical side dishes for the holidays, along with a Fresh Cranberry Relish and our Roasted Brussels Spro ... read more
Panko Fried Chicken Sandwiches $2.81 per serving
Panko Fried Chicken Sandwiches
The fried-chicken sandwich is an indulgent classic. Here crunchy panko breadcrumbs give texture to a light but juicy take on an old-time tradition. Onion rolls and chopped scallions contribute extra flavor and dill pickle slices add tang. If you're feeling brave, add some hot sriracha! ... read more
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts 72¢ per serving
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts
Roasted Brussels sprouts are delish, easy to prepare, and good for you. The toasted walnuts complement them perfectly, and the dish is topped off with a slightly sweet balsamic glaze. We love this as part of a trio of colorful and economical side dishes for the holidays, along with a Fresh Cranberry Relish and our Orange and Honey Glazed Carrots.Th ... read more
Salad Greens with Raspberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette $1.11 per serving
Salad Greens with Raspberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette
A treat to accompany dinner on Valentines Day, or any day, fresh salad greens are enhanced by the magic, long known to Italians, of berries marinated in the gentlest and sweetest of vinegars, balsamic. You can use fresh or frozen berries, and a combination of dark greens, like kale or spinach, along with romaine or butter lettuce is especially appealing.
Spinach and Mushroom Crepes $2.11 per serving
Spinach and Mushroom Crepes
(5.0)
The crepe is a surprisingly economical treat, despite its glamorous French associations and astronomical price tag at restaurants. Crepes are made from a few basic ingredients, can be served hundreds of different ways, sweet or savory, and don’t require any special pan or utensils for cooking. Prepare a large batch of crepes ahead of time and store ... read more
Strawberry Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette $1.72 per serving
Strawberry Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Liven up your salad with this delightful and easy variation. Fresh strawberries add sweetness to dark, leafy greens, and with our tangy homemade maple-balsamic vinaigrette you won't believe how tasty salad can be. If you have a few walnuts and feta or goat cheese crumbles to toss on go for it. Perfect for a special occasion or an everyday treat.
Summer Salad with Lemon Farro $5.00 per serving
Summer Salad with Lemon Farro
Contrasting color, texture, and sweet, sour, and salty flavors make a salad exciting. In this favorite hot-weather entree, we've mixed light and dark greens along with colorful vegetables, crunchy seeds, raisins, a dash of honey, fresh lemon, and blue cheese. Farro—a satisfying, chewy grain—cooks quickly and the lemony vinaigrette on both the green ... read more
Tart Fresh Cranberry Relish 50¢ per serving
Tart Fresh Cranberry Relish
(5.0)
These beautiful seasonal berries need no cooking in this upgrade (in our opinion!) of sugary, cooked cranberry sauce. A little honey, cinnamon, an orange, and a blender are all you need. Tell no one how effortless this treat is to prepare when you bring it to a holiday gathering! We love this as part of a trio of colorful and economical side dishes ... read more
Tea Sandwiches $1.32 per serving
Tea Sandwiches
(5.0)
Tea sandwiches somehow transform basic ingredients into a special, tasty, bite-size treat. Whether you have them for lunch or afternoon tea, they are so simple to make and so extraordinarily delectable. The key is to use thinly-sliced bread with crusts removed. We paired cucumber with cream cheese, avocado, and mint, and egg salad with dill and sto ... read more
Turkey Carver Sandwich $1.16 per serving
Turkey Carver Sandwich
Wishing that Thanksgiving could last longer? The Turkey Carver sandwich is a great way to give fresh life to Thanksgiving leftovers. The sandwich is layered with bit of cranberry and mayo (or gravy) for that mouth-watering taste of celebration. We like to use crisp lettuce and a baguette to add a bit of extra crunch. The combination is surpri ... read more
Velvety Corn Chowder 61¢ per serving
Velvety Corn Chowder
This creamy, rich-tasting chowder is actually good for you. It's low in fat, and made with little salt and no dairy! The inspiration comes from Oprah herself, and her cook Rosie. We've been cooking it up for years now, and decided it's time to share our vegan version. Go for it while there's still fresh corn in the markets, some of the sweetest of ... read more
= quick and easy
= gluten free
= vegetarian
= vegan