Low-Calorie Vegetarian Recipes

At Vegetarian Times, we pay close attention to the calorie count in every recipe. After all, a low-calorie diet combined with an active lifestyle is the best way to maintain a healthful weight while enjoying good foods. These recipes are so packed with flavor and good-for-you ingredients that you won’t miss out on a thing—except unneeded calories.

In order to earn the title “Low-Calorie,” VT recipes must meet the following criteria:

Entrées or entrée salads: 400 calories or fewer
Appetizers, soups, side dishes, side salads, and breads: 200 calories or less
Desserts: 225 calories or fewer
Condiments, beverages, and sauces: 100 calories or fewer

We make it quick and easy for you to enjoy low-calorie dishes that are truly satisfying. Just check the Recipe Index in every issue to see which recipes make the cut, and for more great low-calorie options, just check “Low-cal” when searching for recipes on vegetariantimes.com.

Here are a list of tasty low-calorie recipes to try:

Banana Buckwheat Pancakes

Egg replacer keeps these breakfast treats tender without dairy or extra oil.

Easy Blender Gazpacho

This version of gazpacho does away with all the slicing and dicing, and blending the soup lets the flavors meld without a lengthy chill time. Any vinegar will work in this soup, but sherry vinegar brings it closest to its Spanish roots.

Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Golden Garlic, Tomatoes, and Sage

Sage and tomatoes pair beautifully in this light pasta sauce. Firm Roma tomatoes are your best bet here for a sauce that’s not too watery. If early-season tomatoes make the sauce taste too acidic, stir 1 tsp. sugar or honey in with the sage and olives.

Deep South Slaw

The key to perfect coleslaw is a creamy base, a hint of sweetness, a touch of tangy vinegar, and, in the case of Cajun versions, a little kick from hot sauce or cayenne pepper.

A�ai Sorbet

In its pure state, açai pulp is sour and slightly bitter, but once a little sweetener is added, the flavor resembles concentrated blueberries with a hint of chocolate. “Agave nectar is a good option here because its lower-glycemic-load sugar is a better complement to açai’s phytonutrients,” explains Los Angeles–based nutritionist Ashley Koff, RD.

Lemon-Rosemary Butter Cookies

The rosemary and lemon aromas of these cookies will make your kitchen smell like an Italian bakery.

Spinach, Feta, and Tomato Quiche

The filling here can be replaced with your favorite veggies and cheese, and you can increase the amount of quiche batter for larger pies using this simple equation: count ı/2 cup milk for every egg used. The recipe will also work in a prepared piecrust.

Malaysian Tropical Curry with Lemongrass and Shallots

Sweet-and-sour combinations are common in Malaysian cuisine, which makes abundant use of the country's fresh fruits and vegetables.

Braised Celery Root with Chickpeas and Saffron

Large, melon-shaped knobs of celery root or celeriac may look tough to handle, but are actually very easy to cook with. Once peeled, they can be grated like carrots into salads, boiled and mashed like potatoes, sliced and added to soups, or cut and braised in stews. This recipe tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had a chance to meld. Serve with brown rice, if desired.

Cumin and Bean Sprout Quesadillas

The nifty thing about this quesadilla is that the sprout filling sticks inside, so you don’t have bits of veggies falling out when you eat it. If you’re making quesadillas for a crowd, simply assemble them on a baking sheet, and bake 10 to 15 minutes at 350°F, or until cheese inside has melted.

Full name

Address

Address Line 2

City

State	Zip Code

Email (required)

Full Name
Address
Address
City
Email (req)
State
Zip Code
If I like it and decide to continue, I'll pay just $14.95, and receive a full one-year subscription (9 issues in all), a 67% savings off the newsstand price! If for any reason I decide not to continue, I'll write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing.

Offer valid in US only. Canadian subscriptions \| International subscriptions

resources

newsletters

sponsored resources