Healthy Easter Dinner Recipes

For this fresh roast ham recipe, look for meat that hasn't been cured or smoked. Many markets stock fresh hams, but you may need to special-order one to be sure. Ask your butcher to remove the skin and leave a layer of fat to self-baste the ham as it roasts.

Lamb chops are a fantastic option for this quick dinner recipe because they cook quickly and taste so good. Look for racks with about 8 chops each that have been frenched, which means the meat has been cut away from the tips, exposing the bone. Your butcher will do this for you if you ask.

Fragrant fennel does quadruple duty in this recipe--fennel seed flavors the brine, there's fennel pollen in the glaze, the pork roasts on a bed of fresh fennel and the fronds garnish the dish. Serve with roasted new potatoes, a green salad and a glass of pinot noir.

Traditional gnocchi is made with potatoes, but this easy recipe uses fresh ricotta cheese. For the lightest, most tender gnocchi, use a good-quality ricotta like Bellwether Farms or Calabro and gently but thoroughly pat it dry after draining to remove any extra liquid. Serve as a vegetarian main course or as part of a spring buffet with poached salmon or grilled chicken.

Although not conventional, wonton wrappers are the perfect stand-in for noodles in this muffin-tin mini lasagna recipe. Once you get the hang of making this healthy vegetarian lasagna recipe in your muffin tin, experiment with different fillings to suit your fancy.

These dinner rolls are baked in the slow cooker, then browned under the broiler for a couple minutes for a crisp crust. The results? Billowy, crusty, decadent rolls to serve with any meal.

Garlic gets sweet and mellow when roasted in this recipe. Squeeze the cloves from their skin, and eat with the chicken or spread on bread.

To create captivating May baskets, wrap a wide strip of decorative paper around each cupcake, holding it in place with double-stick tape. Then attach narrow strips of plain paper for the basket handles.

Although this simple side dish recipe is delicious with salmon and other fish, it's also tasty with beef, pork, and poultry.

Fresh strawberries in a sweet glaze fill a tender crust for a light dessert.

White wine and fresh tarragon bring this side dish to life.

Light sour cream and light mayonnaise make up the lime-flavored topper for this fresh fruit dessert. Enjoy it for a snack as well.

Red wine lends rich flavor to the lamb in this easy main dish recipe, which is ideal to serve when entertaining.

Mustard and lamb are a classic combination. Letting the chops chill with the marinade lets the flavors meld beautifully.

Ladyfingers lining this creamy chilled fruit pie recipe create an elegant crowning appearance.

You'll want to use fresh pineapple, not canned, in this recipe calling for the classic flavor combo of pork and pineapple. Grilling both the fruit and the meat imparts a pleasant smokiness to both.

You can make these three-ingredient tomato-simmered eggs with things you probably already have on hand in your freezer and pantry. To make these baked eggs more like eggs in purgatory, look for a spicy tomato sauce and don't forget some whole-wheat bread for dipping.

This quick and easy lemony and herb pasta dish makes a delicious side. Try adding chicken or shrimp for a more complete meal.

This lightened-up cake has the flavor of real vanilla beans, but it's still sweet, delicious, and ready to eat as is or topped with your favorite frosting.

This impressive-looking asparagus salad recipe is actually very easy to make. After quickly boiling the asparagus, the same water is used to soft-boil the eggs. Piment d'Espelette is a sweet, spicy ground pepper from the Basque region of France. While it's not essential, it does add a subtle kick to the otherwise mellow flavors of this salad. Look for this spice at specialty stores and well-stocked markets--or substitute smoked paprika.

Wow your brunch guests with this adorable muffin-tin recipe of baked eggs in a “nest” of prosciutto and hash browns. Make sure you really wring out as much liquid as you can from the potatoes before you bake them--it will prevent the cups from sticking in the muffin tin.

For a Southwestern twist, this healthy deviled egg recipe is flavored with smoky chipotle pepper and tangy green chiles. To keep calories in check, we swapped out half the full-fat mayo for nonfat Greek yogurt.